FAST wins 4 of 6 seats in preliminary by-election results

APIA, SAMOA – 27 NOVEMBER 2021: The FAST Party is ahead by four out of six seats in last night’s by-election provisional results.

Former Manu Samoa Coach, Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua polled 1026 votes ahead of HRPP woman candidate Faagasealii Sapoa Feagiai with 594 votes in the Aleipata Itupa i Lalo constituency.

At Sagaga 4, Tagaloatele Pasi Poloa polled 1154 votes ahead of the HRPP candidate Tuisa Tasi Patea with 727 votes. In the April general elections, Tuisa won the seat, but later resigned before the petition by Tagaloatele alleging election malpractices was heard in court.

In the Aana 2 constituency, former HRPP MP, Aiono Tile narrowly edged out the FAST woman candidate Lolomatauama Eseta Faalata Mataituli by 368 to 359 votes. However, there are 58 special votes yet to be counted.

For the Safata 2 constituency, Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell topped the polls with 849 votes in his second try against the winner in the April general elections, HRPP’s Nonu Teo Lomialagi Lose Niumata with 731 votes.

In Falealili 2, new FAST candidate Maiava Fuimaono Tito Asafo polled 537against HRPP’s Leleimalefaga Neemia Fonotia’s 372 votes.

For Sagaga 2 constituency, HRPP’s Maulolo Tavita Amosa topped the poll with 613 votes.
FAST’s Faalogo Ivins Cheng K. Tong came second with 566 votes. However, there are 142 special votes to be counted.

There were three other candidates in this constituency; Fata Ryan Schuster (FAST) polled 440, Faamausili Siona Tauafao (HRPP) 296, Fata Meafou (FAST) 261 and Independent Vaotuua Michael Toevai with 20 votes.

The special votes will be sorted at 2pm today (Saturday) and the final count for all six constituencies will start at 0900 on Monday.

According to the Office of the Electoral Commissioner, the final results should be known at the close of business on Monday.

There were supposed to be seven by-elections, but the Supreme Court disqualified the HRPP candidate for Falealupo on Monday this week and effectively electing the FAST candidate without going to the polls.

The by elections provisional results mean the ruling FAST Party has 31 seats against the HRPP opposition party with 20 MPs.

The final count next Monday will confirm the results and the final composition of the seven vacant seats in Samoa’s 17^th Parliament.

The by-elections were called after the Supreme Court found four (4) cases of bribery and treating in the 9 April general elections. Three other cases had those elected resign before the petitions against them were heard by the Court.