A set of polling booth results for Safata 2 has been erased from the blackboards at the Office of the Electoral Commissioner’s (OEC) Operation Centre in Tuana’imato.

Before counting closed last Friday, the tally for polling booth number 5, Tafitoala EFKS, recorded Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell with 41 votes, Toleafoa Rosalia Sagaga Niumata with one, Tuia Pu’a Letoa with 122, and Tupa’i Saimasi Matthes with 81.

When the Samoa Observer visited the OEC centre on Monday morning, the results had been removed.

Electoral Commissioner Tuiafelolo John Stanley, when asked about the changes, said he could not comment as he was dealing with another matter. He added that an explanation regarding the Safata 2 results would be provided later.

At the close of counting on Friday, Human Rights Protection Party candidate Tuia led with 631 votes, followed by FAST’s Tupa’i Saimasi Matthes with 595, and Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell in third with 279. Safata 2 also has 25 pre-polling votes and 82 special votes yet to be tallied.