Aliimalemanu Moti Alofa Tuuau has been appointed Samoa’s sixth woman Member of Parliament, completing the constitutional minimum for women’s representation following the conclusion of electoral proceedings arising from the 2025 general election.
Head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II issued the Warrant of Election and Appointment at Vailele on Friday, acting on a report from the Electoral Commissioner.
The appointment increases the Legislative Assembly of Samoa from 51 to 52 members. It comes on the same day the Supreme Court dismissed Leleua Suataga Aso’s petition challenging Tuia Fuatogi Letoa’s Safata 2 by-election victory.
The warrant declares Aliimalemanu an Additional Member under Articles 44(1A) and 44(1B) of the Constitution.
It states that her appointment follows the final determination of the 2025 electoral results, including the conclusion of all election petitions and consequential by-elections.
Aliimalemanu Alofa contested Alataua Sisifo for the Human Rights Protection Party in the 29 August 2025 general election, polling 477 votes against FAST candidate Taituave Lafaitele Valoaga Taaititi Iona’s 522.
Her result amounted to 47.75 percent of the constituency’s 999 valid votes, placing her as the highest-ranked unsuccessful woman candidate by percentage of valid votes.
That percentage is the key to the constitutional selection process. Women who did not win constituency seats are compared by their share of valid votes in their respective electorates, rather than the total number of votes they received.
Samoa’s Constitution guarantees a minimum of 10 percent women’s representation. In 2021, the Court of Appeal ruled that five women among 51 constituency MPs did not meet that minimum, and that six women were required.
The CoA also ruled that the determination of additional women members must await the outcome of election petitions and any resulting by-elections. Those proceedings could change the number of women elected directly and, therefore, whether an additional member was needed.
With five women directly elected following the electoral process, Aliimalemanu fills the remaining place required under the constitutional provision. Women now account for approximately 11.54 percent of the 52-member Assembly.
Aliimalemanu’s appointment adds an HRPP member, while today’s Safata 2 ruling preserves FAST’s existing seat.
Tuia was originally elected for HRPP in 2025 before resigning and successfully contesting the Safata 2 by-election for FAST. The dismissal of the petition means his by-election victory stands.
A tally of the reported election results and subsequent seat changes puts Parliament at 34 FAST members, 13 HRPP members including Aliimalemanu, and five members sitting as Independents.
The Independent grouping includes the three MPs elected under the Samoa Uniting Party which did not secure the eight members required for recognition as a parliamentary party.
Aliimalemanu’s return completes the minimum representation required by Article 44, more than a year after Samoa went to the polls.
Meanwhile, the bribery allegations against Safata 2 Member of Parliament, Tuia Paepae Pua Letoa have been dismissed by the Electoral Court.
Delivered by one of the two presiding judges, Justice Leitaualalesa Daryl Clarke the petition filed by Leleua Suataga Aso is dismissed and ordered the Petitioner to pay $2000(US$718) to the Respondent.
Tuia was accused of enticing voters for the Safata 2 by-election by distributing part of the $10 million(US$3.5 million) compensation funds from New Zealand for the HMNZS Manawanui that sank off the Safata coast.
The Petitioner Leleua Suataga Aso claimed that the timing of the disbursement of the funds was illegal as it was close to the by-election and outside the election campaign period.
According to court records, $6m (US$2.15 million) from the $10m(US$3.5 million)compensation was distributed to Safata district with Safata 2 receiving $2,553,100(US$916,565).
Of that amount, everyone of the Safata 2 district including eligible voters, received $1100(US$394).
The Court says that although the Government did promote Tuia’s candidacy at a roadshow, “it does not determine whether the compensation payments were made on Tuia’s behalf, nor does their political support establish the purpose for which payments were made.”
The Chairman of the Marine Pollution Advisory Committee, that implemented Cabinets decision, testified that by June, several Government agencies were already working on the process to disburse the fund.
By then, Tuia had resigned from the Opposition Party, HRPP in May 2026.
In her final submission, counsel for Tuia, Muriel Lui accepted that the “decision to proceed with the distribution at that time demonstrated a reckless disregard for the fact that a by-election was underway.”
According to the court, the compensation process started before the by-election and the Treasury Department requirement contributed to the process.
“The MPACs response provides a reasonable explanation for the administrative processes that proceeded payments.”
The Court ruled that the evidence did not permit them to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that the payments were made “for a prohibited electoral purpose or on behalf of the respondent.”
The court hence ruled that “the Petitioner has therefore failed to prove the allegation of bribery and the petition is dismissed.”.
