The Member-elect of Fa’asaleleaga No. 2 and Speaker of the House, Papalii Li’o Masipa’u and unsuccessful candidate, Namulau'ulu Sami Leota have withdrawn the petition and counter-petition to maintain peace.

An advertisement in the Tuesday 27 July 2021 edition of the Samoa Observer signed by Namulauulu stated that both the petitioner and respondent have agreed to settle their petitions and that it is not in the best interest of justice as to the purpose of the petition.

“To ensure that peace and harmony in maintaining within the electoral constituency of Fa'asaleleaga No. 3, it is in the best interest of the said constituency and its constituents that this petition is withdrawn,” the advertisement reads.

Similar grounds were listed in the advertisement printed in the Samoa Observer Tuesday, July 28, edition, signed by the Counsel for Papali’i, including the saving of the Courts time and resources as both parties have agreed to back down from the legal challenge.

This comes a week after both parties appeared in Court and made their intentions known to withdraw the petition before the Supreme Court.

Lawyer Aumua Ming Leung Wai, who was acting for Namulauulu, told the Court that the parties have reached a settlement and it’s now a matter of finalising the documentation to sign off on.

Counsel Leiataualesa Komisi Koria, who acted for Papalii in the proceeding, also confirmed the advice from the petitioner.

Their matter will be called in Court again this coming Friday.

Papalii contested the Fa’asaleleaga No. 3 seats under the banner of the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.).

Justice Vui Clarence Nelson presiding with Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma ordered the counsels to advertise their intention to withdraw and provide the necessary documents.

The Fa’asaleleaga No. 3 constituency comprises the villages of Sapapalii, Vaimaga, Eveeve, Fusi, Fuifatu, Fatausi, Fogapoa, Tuasivi, Tapueleele and Safotulafai.

The results from the April election saw Papalii taking the lead to secure 1341 votes with Namulauulu collecting 1124 to lose the seat to his F.A.S.T. rival.

The results as it stands from the cases that the Court has already dealt with and withdrawn as results of settlements leaves the F.A.S.T. party in the lead with 26 seats.

On the other hand the H.R.P.P. has lost two Members-elect as a result of Court decisions with the five other Members-elect resigning due to out-of-court settlements with their rivals. The settlements by the parties have left the party with a minority of 18 Members-elect in the Parliament.