Faleata No. 3 M.P. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi says the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) is feeling positive about its lead in pre-polling figures and and is urging Samoans to go out and vote.

Lealailepule said party strategists had this week been gathering at the party's 'Maota i Petesa' Headquarters in Sogi each evening to analyse pre-polling figures.

The party's headquarters has received a fresh new coat of paint, an “upgrade” to welcome their members new and old back to the H.R.P.P. base ahead of the elections, the M.P. said. 

“The Prime Minister and some of the members will be there after the ballot stations have closed [on Friday]," Lealailepule said.

"We will be there definitely after the polls have closed up until they have released the results. That’s the usual thing we do for every election year.

“We have painted our headquarters and renovated our headquarters and have given it a new look, an upgrade to welcome back our new lot and our old members of the H.R.P.P.”

It is tradition for Tuilaepa and his M.P.s to gather at the headquarters during elections, he said.

At 6 pm on Thursday, a tent and chairs had been assembled outside the H.R.P.P. building while workers were making final preparations for Friday's election.

On Wednesday's pre-polling figures, incumbent party candidates extended their lead to be in front across 28 constituencies, most of which are on Upolu with nine in Savai'i, while F.A.S.T. candidates are ahead in 18 candidates, half from each island.

About 8,500 voters are eligible for pre-poll voting, only about 6.5 per cent of the total pool of 128,000 registered voters. 

After four days of pre-polling, Lealailepule said overall the party was upbeat about the results of the election so far. 

“It’s good. It has been good. I think everyone is excited to get this out of the way,” he said.

“The main thing right now is to go out and vote. I think voters know by now which candidates are good for their districts and who will be a blessing to their district and also good for the country. The main thing is to go out and vote tomorrow (Friday).”

A total of 430 polling stations will open for Friday’s General Election. Ballot stations open at 8am.

Lealailepule, the current caretaker Associate Minister of Communications and Information and Technology (M.C.I.T.), is one of only three candidates who are running unopposed in the election. 

He is joined by Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi's (F.A.S.T.) leader, Fiame Naomi Mataafa and caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, whose passages to Parliament were officially declared last month.