Former Finance Minister dominates Vaimauga 3 by election results

Apia, SAMOA – 01 May 2026 – The preliminary results of the Vaimauga 3 by-elections today had former Finance Minister, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai dominating – leading in ten of the eleven polling booths.

Running as an Independent, Lautimuia polled 1695 votes with his closest rival, Taioaliiseu Fiti Aimaasu, polling 949 votes.

The by-election was triggered when the districts Member of Parliament, Taioaliiseu Fiti Aimaasu who won the August 2025 general election as a HRPP candidate, resigned last month to join the FAST government.

The official results will be announced after the final count that will include the special votes and pre polling votes.

Lautimuia first got into parliament as a FAST candidate in a by-election when the districts MP passed away in 2023.

He was appointed Minister of Finance, replacing Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioʻo in a cabinet reshuffle on 6 September 2023.

However, a split in the FAST government in December 2024 resulted in a snap election when the main budget tabled by Lautimuia as Finance Minister, was rejected by parliament before it was read out in parliament.

Shortly before the early elections in August 2025, the former FAST MPs constituting the caretaker government, formed the Samoa United Party to contest the general election.

Only the former Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and three other former cabinet ministers came back to parliament.

Lautimuia lost to Taioaliiseu Fiti Aimaasu, the candidate he beat in todays by election by 1695 to 949 votes.