Samoa’s Electoral Commissioner Tuiafelolo John Stanley has denied claims that
his office banned media from covering the official counting of votes for the
Vaimauga No.3. by-election.
Speaking on NUSTV last week, he said that his office had done nothing illegal.
“There’s a process in place, and it’s clear under section 80 of the Electoral Act
2019,” Tuiafelolo said.
He said, during an official count for any election, that the first part is scrutinizing
the electoral polls.
“The only people that are allowed to be there during this process are the
secretaries for the candidates, police officers, and officials from the Office of
the Electoral Commission.”
“So under the law, the media are not allowed to be in the room during that
process.”
Tuiafelolo said, he never directed media not to cover the official count.
Last week, veteran politician Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi condemned the
Office of the Electoral Commission for allegedly banning the media from
witnessing the official counting of Vaimauga No.3’s by-election.
The former prime minister and Human Rights Protection Party leader told
reporters last Thursday, he was concerned about the decision to ban media
representatives.
“It has raised a lot of questions about the credibility and transparency of the
work by this office and Government.”
