By Staff Writer
Analysis of running candidates and Electoral Constituencies for the April General Elections, shows a very strong chance of a return to power by the governing, Human Rights Protections Party, HRPP.
Of the 50 seats to be contested the HRPP is assured 6 of the 7 seats confirmed already in the new Parliament.
The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Faleata No. 3 MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi claim 2 of the 6 seats as unopposed candidates.
The other 4 seats at Vaimauga 1, Aleipata Itupa i luga, Fa’asaleleaga 3 and Satupaitea are to be contested by HRPP candidates only.
The seats are already confirmed for the party whoever wins
MP Fiame Naomi Mataafa is the last of the 7 seats confirmed.
Fiame is an opposition independent candidate who is returning unopposed for her Lotofaga seat.
Of the 47 seats left to be decided by the vote, 31 is dominated by the HRPP with half or more candidates registered to run in each one.
The FAST party coalition has a similar breakdown of candidates but for 10 seats only.
Tautua Samoa, Independent MPs and Samoa First do not have enough registered candidates to go around.
Close to 200 candidates are registered for the election polls with more than half running under the HRPP banner.
FAST has just under 50, Independents 15, Tautua Samoa 14 and Samoa First 5.
The HRPP again dominates with candidates registered in all the 47 electoral constituencies.
FAST is short by 6 with candidates enough to register for the election in 41 electoral constituencies 17 are in Savaii.
Tautua Samoa has candidates in 14 constituencies with 6 of them in Savaii. Independent candidates are sprinkled around 12 constituencies 4 are in Savaii.
Samoa First has candidates contesting 5 electoral seats all in Upolu except for Palauli 1 in Savaii.
The overwhelming number of HRPP candidates stands out glaringly in several constituencies in both Upolu and Savaii.
Falelatai No. 1 is one example where of the 5 candidates running for the seat all except one carry the HRPP banner.
The example is repeated in two other electoral constituencies at Siumu and Lefaga and Falese’ela.
Aiga ile tai and Palauli No. 3 in Savaii have similar breakdowns in running candidates as well for the ruling party.
While HRPP candidates dominate to show overwhelming support for the present Government, there is a worrying factor about concentrating too many candidates contesting each seat.
PM Tuilaepa pointed this out in an appeal to party candidates to work on a consensus on who has a better winning chance.
