The two political parties each holding 26 Parliamentary seats following Samoa’s recent general elections have once again been dealt an even share of the 28 petitions that were confirmed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court last night.
Another Even Split
There are 14 petitions against HRPP, and 14 against FAST.
Three HRPP petitions are brought by HRPP candidates. Incumbent Vaimauga 1 MP from Letogo Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa faces a petition filed by his neighbour from Laulii, Fuatimau Maumea Leniu.
Tafua Maluelue Tafua who held the Aleipata Itupa i Lalo seat has brought a petition against fellow HRPP and the much younger Fiumalu Eteuati Eteuati who regustered 807-777 against Tafua at the polls. In Siumu the Battle of the Tuuus continues with former NBS General Manager Tuuu Amaramo Sialaoa bringing a petition against former Cabinet Minister Tuuu Anasii Leota.
Another case for HRPP is against former Associate Minister of MWTI and popular Surveyor, Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli who faces a challenge from Independent candidate and businessman Maualaivao Patelesio Ah Him.
Only 10 petitions facing the Human Rights Protection Party have been filed by FAST candidates.
Of the 14 petitions facing Faatuatua i Le Atua ua Tasi, 11 are brought by HRPP candidates, while 2 have been filed by Tautua Samoa candidates against FAST wins in Savaii.
Tautua Samoa’s Tupai Avala Savaiinaea has filed a challenge against successful FAST woman candidate and General Manager of Western Union, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo for Palauli 1 who polled 712-460 against him. Owner of Siva Afi, Leotamanuasala Lene Leota who ran as an Independent polled third place in Palauli 1 with 439.
Tautua Samoa party leader Afualo Wood Uti Salele challenges FAST Fepuleai Faasavalu Su’a who had beaten him by 381-373. Afualo actually polled third place with HRPP’s Toomata Aki Tuipea polling 375.
FAST candidate for Aana Alofi 3 with a solid 700-575 win at the polls faces a challenge from Independent Ili Setefano Tapili who previously held the seat.
Ministers
Three of the four Caretaker Ministers who lost their seats by substantial margins at the polls to FAST candidates have filed petitions. The Minister who has placed Samoa in a position to be a global digital hub with its cable infrastructure Afamasaga Toeolesulusulu Rico Tupai has filed a petition against environmentalist Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster who polled 845-637 against him. Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti brings a case against FAST woman candidate Matamua Seumanu Vasati Sili Pulufana who polled 1173-689 over Sili in a two-candidate race.
Minister of Agriculture Lopaoo Natanielu Mua polled 823-541 behind against FAST candidate Niuava Eti Malolo. The caretaker Minister of Justice and Courts Administration who was displaced by fellow lawyer Lefau Harry Schuster has not filed a petition.
Two caretaker Ministers face petitions. The charismatic Minister of Education Sports and Culture Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio faces a petition from businessman Papalii Panoa Tavita Moala, who was a co-applicant in the pre-election court decision that forced amendments to parts of the Electoral Act.
Veteran MP and Minister for Works, Transport and Infrastructure Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang faces a petition by former Court Registrar, Veatauia Faatasi Puleiata of Magiagi.
Two former Associate Ministers have filed petitions. Former Associate Minister Salausa Dr. John Ah Ching trailed a close 1207-1181 against FAST in Faleata 1, while former Associate Minister for MJCA Sooalo Mene who trailed with a larger 596-444 margin, brings a petition against Vaele Paiaaua Sekuini for Savaii’s Gagaifomauga 2 seat.
Women Candidates
Three women who secured comfortable wins at the polls face petitions.
Lawyer Aeau Leota Tima Leavai of HRPP with a polling gap of 120 (467-347) faces a petition from FAST candidate Fuiono Tenina Crichton. Matamua Seumanu Vasati Sili Pulufana of FAST faces a petition from caretaker Minister of Finance after polling one of the largest wins of the general election with a gap of 484 votes. Businesswoman and Manager of Western Union Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo secured 252 votes ahead of her challenger, Tautua Samoa’s Tupai Avala Savaiinaea.
Three women who did not secure wins have filed petitions.
FAST woman candidate Toomata Norah Leota takes on the HRPP Deputy Leader, Lauofo Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre Lauofo. Another FAST candidate Lolomatauama Eseta Faalata Mataituli takes on businessman and son of the former speaker, Aiono Afaese Toleafoa.
HRPP veteran MP Gatoloaifaana Amataga Gidlow who took over the Faasaleleaga No2 seat from her late father and Samoa Prime Minister Hon Tofilau Eti Alesana has filed a petition against Magele Sekati Fiaui of FAST.
The 28 Petitions:
1) Vaimauga 1: Fuatimau of HRPP against winning HRPP candidate Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa.
2) Vaimauga 3: FAST Veatauia Faatasi Puleiata vs HRPP Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang.
3) Faleata 1: HRPP Salausa John Ah Ching vs FAST Manuleleua Paletasala Tovale.
4) Sagaga 1: FAST Papalii Tavita Moala vs HRPP Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio (former Minister of Education)
5) Sagaga 2: INDEPENDENT Maualaivao Patelesio Ah Him vs HRPP Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli.
6) Sagaga 4 : FAST Tagaloatele Poloa vs HRPP Tuisa Tulimasealii Tasi Patea
7) Aana Alofi 1 – HRPP Taueva Faafouina Mupo Sauvao vs FAST Fesolai Apulu Tusiupu Tuigamala.
8) Aana Alofi 2 – FAST Lolomatauama Eseta Faalata Mataituli vs HRPP Aiono Afaese Toleafoa.
9) Aana Alofi 3 – INDEPENDENT Ili Setefano Taateo Tafili vs FAST Agaseata Valelio Tanuvasa Peto.
10) Aana Alofi 4: HRPP Afamasaga Toeolesulusulu Lepuiai Rico Tupai vs FAST Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster.
11) Aiga i le Tai: HRPP Ifopo Matia Filisi Jahnke vs FAST Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua
12) Falelatai ma Samatau: FAST Pau Roy Ausage vs HRPP Lupematasila Galumalemana Tologata Togia Tile Leia.
13) Lefaga & Faleseela: HRPP Sua Tanielu Sua vs FAST Masinalupe Makesi Masinalupe
14) Safata 1: FAST Afemata Palusalue Faapo vs HRPP Leaana Ronnie Posini
15) Safata 2 – FAST Laumatiamanu Matthew Ringo Purcell vs HRPP Nonu Teo Lomialagi Lose Niumata.
16) Siumu: HRPP Tuuu Amaramo Sialaoa Pagamalie vs HRPP Tuuu Anasii Leota
17) Falealili 2: FAST Veletaloola Fuimaono Lotomua Avauli vs HRPP Fuimaono Teo Samuelu Atiifale
18) Aleipata Itupa i Lalo: HRPP Tafua Maluelue Tafua vs HRPP Fiugalu Eteuati Eteuati
19) Anoamaa 2: FAST Toomata Norah Leota vs HRPP Deputy Leader, Lauofo Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre Lauofo.
20) Faasaleleaga 1: HRPP Sili Epa Tuioti vs FAST Matamua Seumanu Vasati Sili Pulufana
21) Faasaleleaga 2: HRPP Gatoloaifaana Amataga Gidlow vs FAST Magele Sekati Fiaui.
22) Faasaleleaga 3: HRPP Namulauulu Papalii Leota Sami Leota vs FAST Papalii Lio Oloipola Taeu Masipau
23) Gagaemauga 1 – HRPP Laufou Alofipo Faamanu Manase vs Independent turned FAST Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio
24) Gagaifomauga 2: HRPP Sooalo Umi Feo Mene vs FAST Vaele Paiaaua Iona Paiaaua Sekuini
26) Vaisigano 1: HRPP Former Minister Agriculture, Lopaoo Natanielu Mua vs FAST Niuava Eti Malolo
26) Falealupo: FAST Fuiono Tenina Chrichton vs HRPP Leota Aeau Tima Leavai
27) Salega 1 – TAUTUA Aafualo Wood Uti Salele vs FAST Fepuleai Faasavalu Faimata Sua
28) Palauli 1: TAUTUA Tupai Avala Savaiinaea vs FAST Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo
