Sala Pinati returns at Gagaemauga No. 1, Tapulesatele ousts Motuopua’a

04 March 2016, 12:00AM

It’s done. The H.R.P.P has secured at least 47 seats in Parliament. 

Sala Pinati has won the seat at Gagaemauga No. 1. He collected 993 votes to Tuala Iosefo’s 809 votes. 

 At Vaisigano No. 2, Tapulesatele Mauteni Esera has defeated Motuopua’a Vaai with 690 votes to 432. 

Speaker of Parliament, Laauli Leuatea Polataivao has survived a strong challenge from Faaulusau Rosa Stowers at Gagaifomauga No. 3. He has won with 666 votes to his opponent’s 353 votes.

Faumuina Tiatia Liuga wins at Palauli le Falefa. He gained 723 votes ahead of Leota Laki Sio who claimed 611 votes. Tiatia Mapusone polled 464.   

Gatoloaifaana has become the fourth woman candidate to secure her seat in Parliament. She has overcome Magele Mauiliu Magele at Faasaleleaga No. 1 West winning with 838 votes. Magele collected 580 votes.

At Gagaifomauga No 2, Sooalo Mene claimed a landslide win with 810 votes to Manuta Lavamaile’s 190.

A ferry from Savaii bringing the last results has just arrived at the Matautu Wharf. There are five more seats to be confirmed. 

In the meantime, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielgaoi has delivered his winning speech, thanking Samoa for their support.

Gagaemauga No. 3 MP and Minister of Environment, Fa’amoetauloa Dr. Faale Tumali’i is back. He defeated Nafoi Talaimanu with 696 votes to 578. 

Faumuina Wayne Fong has unseated Maualaivao Pat Ah Him at the Urban West seat. Faumuina secured 1100 votes to overcome Maualaivao who had 934 votes. Matafeo Dan Aiafi came third with 825 votes. 

Two more Members of Parliament have secured their return. Tafua Maluelue Tafua has won the battle at Aleipata Itupa I Lalo with 916 votes while Lenatai Victor Tamapua has come from behind to claim the Vaimuaga West No. 1 seat winning with 1021 votes.

At Anoama’a Sasae, Alaiasa Sepulona Moananu has won with 666 votes.

Election officials have just made a correction about the votes at Falelatai and Samatau. Contrary to earlier reports, Misa Iuli Anae polled 715 votes instead of 915 votes. This means Taefu Lemi retains the seat with 813 votes. To’omaga Salapu collected 321 votes.

Veteran Members of Parliament, Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi and Tuitama Dr. Tuitama are back in Parliament. They have secured the Aana Alofi No. East and West seats respectively. 

But Ili Taateo has unseated Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiataua at Aana Alofi No. 2. He scored 814 votes to Tolofua’s 556.

At Sagaga Le Usoga, Seiuli Ueligitone has won with 1001 votes. Maulolo Tavita came second with 485. 

Papali’i Niko Lee Hang has claimed a landslide victory at Urban East. He won 1211 votes with his nearest rival, Toleafoa Mara Hunter collecting 297 votes.

At Palauli I Sisifo, Afoa Faleulu Mauli has unseated Agafili Patisela with 652 votes. Agafili came third with 419 votes while Leota Lene collected 451 votes. 

At last some good news for the Tautua Samoa Party. Aeau Peniamina Leavai has become their only MP winning the battle at Falealupo. Aeau polled 352 with his closest rival collecting Seumanutafa Salesa collecting 304 votes.

Vaimauga West 2 has a new MP. He is Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu who won with 1453 votes. Lefau Harry Schuster polled 423. 

Deputy Prime Minister Fonotoe Piere Lauofo has secured a massive win at Anoamaa West. He polled 1069 votes with Leota Ituau Ale his closest rival with 377 votes.

At Faleata East, another member of the Tautua Party has fallen. Aveau Niko Palamo has conceded the seat to newcomer Salausa Dr. John Ah Ching who won with 703 votes. Aulavemai Tafito came second with 553 votes.    

Sagaga le Falefa has returned Loau Keneti Sio to Parliament. He polled a total of 1423 votes to unseat Tuisa Patea who came second with 999 votes. Tagaloa Poloa collected 753 votes.

Sili Epa Tuioti has narrowly defeated Pauli Ivan Williams at Faasaleleaga No. 1 East. Sili polled 475 to Pauli’s 471. 

At Faasaleleaga No. 2, Pau Sefo Pau has unseated Papali’i Taeau Masipau. Pau polled 708 with Namualuulu Sami Leota collecting 683 votes. Papalii secured 640 votes.    

Tuifaasisina Lisati Leleisiuao has won the race at Palali East, polling 909 votes. In doing so, he has unseated Afoafouvale John Moors who managed 613 votes.

At Gagaemauga No. 2, Faaso’otauloa Pati is back in Parliament. He secured 201 votes with his closest rival being Seuoti Sheryl polling 160 votes. Aufai Uesile collected 153votes.

Vaisigano No. 1 has a new Member of Parliament. He is Lopao’o Natanielu Mua, who has unseated Tufuga Gafoaleata Faitua. Lopao’o won with 792 votes. Paialii Mao was his closest rival with 162 votes while Tufuga only managed 49 votes.

Another Member of Parliament has been unseated, this time at Falelatai and Samatau. Misa Iuli Anae polled 915 votes to secure the seat, ahead of Taefu Lemi’s 813. To’omaga Salapu collected 321 votes.

At Vaa o Fonoti, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt has retained his seat, with a total of 526 votes. His nearest rival is Leilua Javas who polled 248. 

The Minister of Communications, Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, has been unseated at Vaimauga East. He has been defeated by Sulumanaia Tuiliili Tuivasa who collected 938 votes. Tuisuga polled 813.

At Aiga i le Tai, Ifopo Matia Filisi has also been unseated by Mulipola Leiataua Laki. He collected 1346 votes while Ifopo, his closest rival, only managed 790 votes.

Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi has secured a narrow victory at Faleata West. Leala collected 857 votes to edge out his nearest rival, Ale Vena Ale, who polled 853. 

Ulu Bismark Crawley won 836 votes while Panoa Moala collected 441 votes.

Tusa Misi Tupuola is back at Falealili West. He defeated Aumua Isaia Lameko by a mere four votes. Tusa polled 661 while Aumua, the son of Tuiloma Pule Lameko, collected 657.

At Gagaifomauga No 1, Faimalotoa Kika Stowers has won with 592 votes. Lavea Ieti polled 445 votes.

Former MP for Gagaemauga No. 2, Levaopolo Talatonu is back in Parliament as Salega East’s new MP. This time he comes as Olo Fiti Vaai.

Olo secured 284 votes to defeat the incumbent Tapuai Toese Ah Sam who collected 149 votes.

Salega West has a new MP. He is Toomata Aki who defeated Afualo with 648 votes. Afualo managed 409 votes.

Aliimalemanu Alofa Tuuau has become the first female candidate to secure a seat. She has defeated Lafaitale Patrick Leiataualesa at Alataua West.

She polled 400 votes while Lafaitele came second with 265. Maiava Visekota managed to come third with 245.

The leader of the Tautua Samoa Party, Palusalue Faapo II has lost the battle at Safata East. 

Him and the Minister of Works, Manualesagalala Enokati Posala have been defeated by Leaana Ronnie Posini who collected 957 votes. 

Palusalue had 655 while Manua managed 610 votes.

At Siumu, Faalogo Iosefa Sopi is the new MP, defeating Tuuu Anasii Leota. Faalogo secured 718 votes while Tuuu collected 672.

Toleafoa Ken Poutoa has won the Lefaga and Faleaseela battle with 895 votes. Sua Tanielu came second with 697 votes while Lemalu Siliva came third with 434.

Nonu Lose Niumata won the Safata East contest. He collected 520 votes, ahead of Leota Suatele, 375 and Luamatiamanu Purcell who had 376. 

Fuimaono Samuelu Teo won the Falealili East contest, according to the first unofficial count.

With a total of 409 votes, he has edged out his rivals Fuimano Esera Rimoni, 22 votes, Tofu Falefa Lima, 27 votes, Fuimaono Alex Wright, 312 and Maiava Viiga 202.

At Aana Alofi No. 3, Afamasaga Rico Tupai has defeated Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster with 836 votes. Toeolesulusulu collected 709 votes while Leituala Vaafusuga got 107 votes.     

Lautimuia Uelese Vaai has taken a commanding lead at Vaimauga West Nu. 2, claiming a total of 586 votes as the counting continues.

Incumbent MP Lenatai Victor Tamapua is second with 177 while Patu Sola Hunt is third.

The first unofficial count for the 2016 General Elections point to some interesting results up ahead. At this point, it is not looking good for the Tautua Party.

While there are still a few polling booths to arrive, two of their key candidates are behind. 

Lefau Harry Schuster is trailing Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu at Vaimauga West N. 2 while Afualo Dr. Wood Salele is also behind against Toomata Aki at Salega East.

Since 8am today, voters have been queuing up at more than 300 polling booths across the country to cast their votes.

Some 171 candidates are vying for 49 seats in Parliament. Four have already been secured by Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Lautafi Fio Purcell and Amituanai Kenrick.

Voting day has been very peaceful. A beautiful sunny day greeted voters who were nice an early to cast their votes.

The busiest polling booths have been in the Apia Town area.

Out in the villages, they have been relatively quiet.

The mood has been rather subdue with opposing candidates and their committees sharing jokes and smiles around.

Stay tuned.

04 March 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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