Chief Election Officer, Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei has disqualified one of the candidates in the House of Representatives election.
He is Aliitama Sotoa, one of the five candidates vying for the House seat in District #1, Manu’a.
Sotoa was notified in a September 27th letter by Dr. Uiagalelei, “After several efforts to secure and collect documents in order to meet your House of Representatives candidacy requirements for the Nov. 8, 2022 Midterm Election, to no avail, I have made the decision to withdraw your name from the official ballot for Representative District #1 — Manu’a, effective immediately, September 27, 2022.”
Sotoa who was Director of the Territorial Energy Office in the Lolo Lemanu administration was on the list of certified candidates that the Election Office released after the deadline to file nominating petitions, on August 31st.
His disqualification leaves the two incumbents Fetu Fetui and Alumamalu Ale Filoialii and challengers, Elijah J. Leasau, contending the seat for the first time and Paepaetele Mapu Jamias, who has run before.
