Media pre-empts election results as official results are delayed

Its 1130 and nothing much happening as official results are being awaited.

APIA, SAMOA – 09 APRIL 2021: The provisional results of Samoa’s national elections have already been announced on the media as the Office of the Electoral Commissioner is slow in posting the official results for media distribution.

The Office of the Electoral Commissioner told Talamua at 1130 tonight that the system has been down for two hours and it has been restored but the returning officers have been slow in posting the results through the system.

The last results were posted at around 8.00 tonight and by 1130 tonight, several constituencies have empty results and none of the constituencies have had the final totals posted.

However, Leader of the FAST Party, Fiame Naomi Mataafa has already declared her party won 25 seats. The caretaker Prime Minister and HRPP Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi spoke to the media at 9.00pm tonight and acknowledged the voters and the parties and said to wait for the final result after the official count next week.

Results still empty as of 1130 tonight but the results were known at the polling booths after polls closed at 3.00 this afternoon.

Some media outlets have reported several ministers have lost their seats and some candidates have also shown on social media, celebrations by winning candidates.

The media reports are based on the vote count in each polling booth after the polls closed at 3.00 this afternoon. These are the results that the Electoral Office said that are slow in being posted plus a two hour breakdown in the system.

When the main party leaders spoke to the media tonight, it has been known that FAST had won 25 seats, HRPP 24 and 1 Independent.

The ballot boxes from Savaii are supposed to be on the 800pm ferry from Salelologa tonight but the teams still haven’t arrived at the EOC Office at 1145 tonight.