Election Runners All Legal

By Staff Writer

The Mulinu’u Court House was a scene of mixed emotions on Friday afternoon, in a full sitting of the Supreme Court, to rule on petitions by candidates for the general elections.

 The court verdicts officially ended four weeks or 20 working days of a judiciary race to complete all legal matters on 20 election petitions by candidates.

Among the court rulings that attracted public interest was the decision to disqualify Tuula Kiliri Lafi Tuitui as a candidate for the territorial constituency of Lepa.

The court upheld the motion by Faletagoai Tausaga, a third candidate for the constituency that his rival Tuula did not render ‘monotaga’ to be eligible.

The court dismissal has left Faletagoai the only other candidate to contest the seat currently held by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

The uncontested run by the Minister of Education, Loau Keneti Sio, for the Sagaga No. 1 is reversed.

Papali’i Tavita Moala succeed in his petition to be re-instated as a legitimate candidate to contest the seat currently held by the Minister for the general elections.

The court ruling allowed the petitioning candidate to run under his chiefly title Papali’i.

The biggest winner in court on Friday was veteran MP for the Faleata No. 3 Constituency, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.

The ruling to disqualify Paloa Louis James Stowers as a candidate MP Lealailepule as the MP-elect for Faleata No. 3 in the 2021 general elections.

He is now only the second confirmed MP for the new Parliament after the Lotofaga MP and former deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

Lady MP and Chairperson of the Parliament Finance Committee, Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’uau was successful in pushing out Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa as a rival candidate for her Alataua i Sisifo constituency seat.

The court ruled that Lafaitele did not render ‘monotaga’ to the constituency.  MP Ali’imalemanu has only to win against one other candidate left to retain her seat.

Current sitting member for the Palauli No. 3 constituency, Tuifa’asisina Risati did not do well in his motion to disqualify his younger brother Aiolupotea Toni as an election candidate on the ‘monotaga’ issue.

The court also ruled against a second motion he made to disqualify Mataafa Faavae as candidate.

MP Tuifa’asisina will try to retain his seat from six other candidates in the running for the 2021 general elections.

The other remaining court rulings either disqualified or retained the line up of candidates who registered before the close of nominations.

With lineup of candidates legally confirmed the next step now is to await polling day next year in April 2021.