The battle between two Human Rights Protection Party members, Fuatimau Maumea Leniu against Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa over the Vaimauga No.1 seat will be heard next week. 

The retired civil engineer of Laulii is one of three H.R.P.P. candidates to have petitioned their own successful colleagues following April’s General Election. 

Fuatimau collected 991 votes while the winner and elected Member of Parliament for Vaimauga No.1, Sulamanaia won over 1349 ballots from the constituency. 

The second petition set to be heard on next week’s list is one brought by the leader of the Tautua Samoa party, Afualo Dr. Wood Salele against his rival Fepuleai Fa’asavalu Faimata. 

Fepuleai won the Salega No.1 seat with 381 votes while Afualo, who placed third, received 373 polls. 

The elected M.P. for Salega No.1 is accused of three bribery allegations. 

The allegations against Fepuleai are in relation to a church donation made by the Friends4Fiame group to the Methodist Church of Samata-uta on 2 April 2021. 

He is also accused of giving $2500 to voters during the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) roadshow that took place in the big island of Savaii.  

A counter-petition from Fepuleai against Afualo alleges that he gave $340 tala to the Methodist church of Faiaai on 21 March 2021 when he delivered a sermon at the church. 

The Salega No.1 constituency consists of the villages of Faia’ai, Samata-tai, Samata-uta, Fagafau and Fogatuli.  

The third petition is for the Aana Alofi No.3 challenge brought by former Tautua Samoa M.P. Ili Setefano Taateo against winner Agaseata Valelio Peto. 

Agaseata represented the F.A.S.T. party in the recent election. 

There were initially 28 electoral petitions filed following polling day, with 14 of them against H.R.P.P. winners and 14 against F.A.S.T. victors. 

Three H.R.P.P. petitions have been brought by their own party candidates, including Tafua Maluelue Tafua against Fiugalu Eteuati Eteuati for the Aleipata Itupa i Lalo seat. 

In Siumu, Tuuu Amaramo Sialaoa filed a petition against former Cabinet Minister Tuuu Anasii Leota. 

Three petitions have already been dealt with by the Court this week including the Gagaifomauga No.2 challenge that was withdrawn on Monday.