The current caretaker Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mauu Siaosi Puepuemai, has been confirmed to run as an independent candidate for the upcoming general election.

A reliable source at the Office of the Electoral Commissioner confirmed Mauu had registered as an independent candidate.

Mauu was contacted for a comment on the reasons why he chose to become an independent candidate despite being one of the caretaker ministers for the cabinet, but he did not respond.

Mauu was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the April 2021 general election.

He resigned from the Human Rights Protection Party on 25 November 2022 to become an independent, citing a request to do so by his constituents.

Following a court challenge, his seat was declared vacant on 19 July 2023.

He was subsequently endorsed as a Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi candidate in the resulting by-election.

He was sworn back into Parliament on 24 October 2023.

On 15 January 2025, he was appointed Minister of Communications and Information Technology following the sacking of Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo.

Mauʻu was raised in Fagaloa before moving to American Samoa.] After returning to Samoa in the 1990s he opened a pizza shop, car rental business, and kava farm.

He will likely be contesting the Vaa O Fonoti seat where he holds strong support.