Fiame Questions Electoral Commissioner’s Shifting Statements on Election Results

Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio and FAST Party Leader, Fiame Naomi Mataafa during yesterdays press conference.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 27 APRIL 2021: The leader of the Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa is questioning the changing public announcements by the Electoral Commissioner Faimalōmatua Mathew Lemisio on the official result of the general elections announced 16 April.

In a press conference yesterday, Fiamē and the 26^th member of the FAST party, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio addressed the public “so as not to be misled by these changing announcements.”

Fiamē recounted that the official results as announced, were FAST 25, HRPP 25 and 1 Independent.

“I was counted as a member of FAST,” said Fiamē. “Last week (Wednesday), Tuala joined FAST giving FAST 26 seats. So in a 51 seat parliament FAST has 26 seats and 25 to HRPP.”

Then on their Facebook on Monday (19 April) night, OEC announced the appointment of a sixth woman member of parliament, signed by the Head of State which has been challenged in court.

“But he had already said there was no need to activate the relevant article of the constitution since five women had already been voted in the general elections,” said Fiamē.

“If it wasn’t for this move, the result of the people’s vote is clear, FAST with 26 seats against HRPPs 25 and that should have formed the new Government.”

Another shifting announcement by the OEC last week is the 26 seats to HRPP, 24 FAST and 2 Independents which obviously contradicted his earlier announcement that included Fiamē in the FAST party.

“I am included in the count for FAST 25 elected members. I registered as an Independent but after Parliament dissolved, I became an official member of FAST,” she said.

Fiamē noted that this latest announcement that counted her and Tuala as Independents “is just a gesture to say that HRPP has the higher number of seats.”

Fiamē doubts Commissioner’s Competence
Fiamē has doubted the Electoral Commissioners competence and quotes the previous court cases on the Electoral Act where the Commissioners response was “its an oversight.”

“I begin to question the person’s competence,” said Fiamē.

She also reasons that being under a one government for a long time, the public servants need to remain impartial and must give equal treatment to political parties.

“It’s not a good thing if the Electoral Commissioners position keeps changing and we need public officials who serve the government and must treat the public the same and not the political party they support,” said Fiamē.

She also questions the basis of the Commissioners changing announcements.

“Whether he was asleep and woke up and said he will appoint another woman, or whether he had a dream, or he spoke to someone or did the Attorney General advise him,” wondered Fiamē.

She emphasized that the actions of an unelected public official has plunged the country into this stalemate where the decision of the voters had been side-lined for the courts to decide.

Message to the Electoral Commissioner
Asked what message she would give the Electoral Commissioner?

“The Samoan voters have spoken. It’s 26-25. The country has spoken to effect the change.”

Fiamē also explained that the FAST Party has already submitted to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly all documentation of the party members that also include her and Tuala’s statutory declarations that they are members of the FAST political party.

“The work of OEC is over and now it’s the Clerk of the House and we have advised him that our party has the most numbers after the elections, so he can advise the Head of State.”

But that now waits for the court to rule on the FAST legal challenge following the Electoral Commissioners action to appoint a sixth woman MP and causing a political stalemate.

Must Samoa go back to the polls?
Fiamē insists there is no need for fresh elections as the result is clear 26-25 to form a government.

After hours waiting to get a comment from the Electoral Commissioner yesterday, he did put out a press statement last night. However the statement did not address the issue of his changing announcements raised by the FAST Party leaders.