Luailepou Tikilapilesa Misi will contest the Safata No.1 by-election as a candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party.

The 57-year-old served the Ministry of Works for more than 30 years as a building inspector. Luailepou is from Sa'anapu and Falelauniu.

HRPP leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he has been serving not only the country through the Ministry of Works but is also a chief in his family and village of Saanapu.

Tuilaepa said Luailepou has all the qualities of someone who has served his village before becoming a matai and has all the party's trust to be the candidate for HRPP.

"He has our blessings and that he may win," he said.

"Safata was always HRPP as I reminisce to when Pule Lameko was their faipule some years back.

"That's why I am still confident that Luailepou should have the trust of the constituency as someone who loves to serve."

Meanwhile, Tunumafono Makerita Tai-Tin will contest the Safata No.1 by-election in February as the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party candidate.

The Samoa Uniting Party has indicated that it may not field a candidate for the by-election.

Candidate registration takes place on Friday, 16 January. The OEC will release the names of all registered candidates on the same day to allow time for objections.