Eight individuals have been certified by Samoa's Electoral Commissioner to contest next month's three by-elections which will also usher in a newly registered political party.

A notice from the Office of the Electoral Commission (O.E.C.) confirmed that eight candidates were nominated for the by-elections at the close of the nomination period on Friday afternoon. 

The newly registered political party called the Constitution Democracy Republic Party (C.D.R.P.) has been officially recognised with its first candidate being Feutaga’iimealelei Osovale Brown who is running in the Va’a o Fonoti constituency seat. 

Others contesting the Vaa o Fonoti seat include Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) candidate, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri and Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) member, Mau’u Siaosi Puepuemai. 

In the Siumu seat, there are three candidates, Fa’alogo Kapeli Lafaele who is flying the independent banner, Tu’uu Amaramo Sialaoa of the H.R.P.P. and Tu’uu Anasii Leota for F.A.S.T. 

The Faleata No. 4 seat only has two candidates with F.A.S.T. party's candidate and former member of parliament, Ale Vena Ale and rival Ulu Bismarck Crawley running as an independent.

In total, there are three F.A.S.T. candidates, two H.R.P.P. candidates, two independent and one other individual being the first C.D.R.P. candidate. 

Electoral Commissioner, Tuiafelolo John Stanley accepted the nomination of the candidates to contest in the upcoming by-elections for the electoral constituencies in mid-September. 

During a press conference after the closure of the nomination, Tuiafelolo said there were minor issues faced by candidates in submitting their documents which were sorted out. 

He also confirmed the updated roll for each constituency when it was temporarily closed for the by-elections. 

Faleata No. 4 now has a roll of 2,253 registered voters compared to 2171 in the 2021 General Election. Siumu now has registered 2,259 voters compared to 2,191 in 2021, and Vaa o Fonoti currently has 1,670 compared to 1,672 in 2021. 

The seats for the constituencies became vacant after attempts by the former MPs to fight a legal challenge questioning their membership were withdrawn and consented to return to by-elections. 

The former MPs resigned from the H.R.P.P. shortly after the former ruling party failed to return to government and their leader was found in contempt of Court.