The caretaker government of Samoa prime minister Tuila'epa Sa;ilele Maleilegaoi, ahead of the March 2016 elections Photo: autagavaia tipi autagavaia
Samoa's ruling HRPP party has retained four seats in the 49 seat parliament following yesterday's Supreme Court decisions on six cases questioning the eligibility of some candidates.
The caretaker prime minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, has won his Lepa constituency after his motion to disqualify his only opponent, Tu'ula Kiliri Lafi Tuitui, was upheld.
Tu'ula did not fulfil the requirement of rendering a village service or monotaga in three consecutive years.
The minister of justice, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, has retained Lotofaga unopposed after her motion to disqualify her only opponent, Fiaola Iosua Lole, because of a criminal conviction.
In another case, the former MP for Aleipata Itupa i luga, Amituanai Fagaivalu Kenrick Samu, has also won his seat unopposed after a motion to disqualify his only opponent, Leo'o Tautalatasi Dr John Adams, over the village service requirement.
The constituency of Satupa'itea has re-elected its former MP, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell, who was the only nominated candidate.
Meanwhile Tuila'epa says the HRPP has already secured eighteen seats because the opposition Tautua Samoa party has no candidates in eighteen of the 49 constituencies.
