Deputy Prime Minister Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo expressed frustration Friday during a press conference after being questioned about reports that he paid $100,000 to Tuiloma Laniselota Lameko to withdraw an electoral petition.

The journalist had asked whether Toelupe had given money to Tuiloma, the former candidate for Falealili No.1, to drop the petition against him.

Toelupe responded firmly. “But when that relationship is abused and respect is not given back, and the cunning intelligence of the reporter comes at you, that’s when I react strongly,” he said.

 “When we meet, you always say that we’re family. That is why I said what I said. But if I had known it would be taken that way, I would not have said it. Leave the matter there,” he said.

The electoral petition against Toelupe, filed by Tuiloma after the 2025 general elections, was scheduled in court on Friday for consideration of the required withdrawal statements by both parties.

However, the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) filed an application to join the case through Meleisea Mathew Lemisio, seeking to intervene in the proceedings.

Chief Justice Satiu Perese Simativa adjourned the matter to next week while the court considers the HRPP’s application to join the case.

Toelupe did not provide further details about the alleged transaction and declined to comment beyond urging the media to respect the government-media relationship.

The case remains under review, and the court’s next hearing is expected to determine whether HRPP will be formally joined to the petition against Toelupe.