An unnamed candidate has had his nomination for the November by-elections rejected after it was found he did not meet residency requirements needed to contest the poll. 

The Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio, told the Samoa Observer that their office had knocked back one nomination but declined to provide details about their identity. 

“One person was assessed by our assessing team and was advised that the 305 days requirement was not,” replied Faimalo. 

He did not name which constituency the candidate had sought to contest. 

Under the Electoral Act it is compulsory for a candidate who intends to run for office to reside in Samoa for 305 days prior to standing for office. In the previous parliamentary term the requirement was only 240 days.

Registration closed last week and 22 eligible candidates have listed their names to contest the seven vacant seats. 

Those seats include the constituencies of; Sagaga no2, Sagaga no.4, Aana Alofi no.2, Safata no.2, Falealili no.2, Aleipata Itupa i Lalo and Falelupo.  

The 22 candidates who registered for the contest have until Friday this week to withdraw their nomination. 

The Office of the Electoral Commission (O.E.C.) calendar noted that pre-election petition applications closed on Monday this week. 

Candidates are still open to campaign until 23 November which is the cut off period for campaign until pre-polling starts on the 24 November. 

The polling day for the election is 26 November and results are expected to be declared on 30 November. 

Out of the 22 registered candidates, two of them are running as independents with one backing the Tautua Samoa party, 10 represent the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party and nine are flying the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) banner. 

Two female candidates have been listed to run in the by-elections from different constituencies. 

The outcome of the by-election – whether the two female candidates will come through or not – will determine whether a constitutional provision which mandates 10 per cent of women representation in parliament (as in six women Members) can be invoked. 

Should both women win the by-elections the mandatory provision will not be triggered unless one or none of them got elected.