By Staff Writer
Veteran Member of Parliament, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, is not worried that he may have to return to the polls to decide whether he keeps his Faleata No.3 Electoral Constituency seat.
He was nominated unopposed at the close of candidates nominations but that may change.
One of the nominated candidates for the seat rejected by the Electoral Commissioner is set to challenge the decision in court.
The candidate filed a court petition before the deadline last Friday for legal complaints at being disqualified.
“ I’m aware of the complaint and it is to do with not meeting the legal requirements for ‘monotaga’, “ Lealailepule reacted when asked about it.
‘Monotaga’ is officially … “the compulsory service, assistance or contribution (such as, contribution in form of cash, kind or goods) rendered for customary, traditional or religious activities, events, function or similar purposes pursuant to the customs of a particular village.”
“The Electoral Act is clear on the ‘monotaga’ so the court will decide but personally these court petitions are a positive sign of our democracy at work,” the MP readily agreed.
“If this was dirty politics as the critics are saying then these petitions would not have reached court.
“We have a good democracy and it is working well for us.”
Lealailepule is one of only three nominated candidates who were returned unopposed at the close of nominations a week ago last Friday.
The Minister of Education Loau Keneti Sio is one but it could change for him too. Another nominated candidate for his seat was denied by the Election Commissioner and he is going to court.
Independent MP Fiame Naomi Mataafa is the lone candidate whose nomination remains uncontested.
The filing of all court petitions by candidates rejected as ineligible to run closed at 12 noon last Friday.
“The court received 20 notices of motion or petitions relating to candidate eligibility for the April 2021 General Elections, “ the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice Ms. Moliei Simi Vaai confirmed in a media statement.
“These petitions will be heard and determined before the Supreme Court within 20 working days from today, the last day of filing of these motions as provided for under s47(3)(a)(ii) of the Electoral Amendment Act(No.2)2020.”
A total of 200 nominated candidates were registered with the Office of the Electoral Commissioner at the close of deadline Friday 16 October 2020.
Upolu nominated a total of 127 or 63.5 per cent of all the candidates for 31 of the Electoral Constituencies on the more populated island.
Savai’i with only 73 nominations for 20 of the Electoral Constituencies made up 36.5 per cent of the total number of election candidates.
But of the 22 women nominated overall as candidates, 13 or 59 per cent are from Savaii, four (4) are current sitting MPs including the Minister of Health Faimalotoa Kika Stowers.
Based on the total number of nominations, the average number of candidates, per Electoral Constituency works out to about 4 each .
The most number of candidates nominated for one Electoral Constituencies was recorded in Savaii at Palauli 1 and Palauli 3 with seven (7) each.
The two Savai’i Electoral Constituencies at Gagaemauga 2 and Gagaifomauga 3 each recorded the lowest number of candidates nominated of two (2) each.
The Government HRRP party recorded 114 nominations with the balance shared between smaller political parties. Others are running as independents.
