Vaimauga 3 By-Election Candidates revealed

Its offical, four candidates have been accepted to contest the Vaimauga 3 Electoral Constituency parliamentary seat.

The candidates were confirmed by Electoral Commissioner, Toleafoa Tiuafelolo Alexander John Stanley, in a public notice issued last Friday, April 10, 2026.

The by-election is scheduled for Friday, 01st May 2026.

The four are Lautimuia Uelese Vaai, Puaalatamai Tupuola Filemoni Filemoni, Taioaliiseu Fiti Aimaasu, and Tuuamaalii Tupuola Fomai Sapolu.

The notice was issued under Section 47 and Section 48 of the Electoral Act 2019.

The Vaimauga 3 electoral seat was made void when the successful candidate that run in the 2025 General Elections under the Human Rights Protection Party flag, Taioaliiseu Fiti Aimaasu, resigned to join Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party.

Aside from this obvious contender, former Finance Minister Lautimuia, who lost his seat to Taioaliiseu in last year’s general election, is also another nominee who is well known in the public eye.

He is, however, planning to run as an Independent candidate this time.

Lautimuia is no stranger to elections; he first ran in 2016 but was unsuccessful.

But, managed to secure himself a place in Parliament in a by-election following the passing of a former H.R.P.P. candidate who held this seat for many years and was a veteran M.P., Tapunuu Papalii Niko Lee Hang.

The last day for withdrawing of nominations is Thursday, 16 April at 12noon, with pre-polling scheduled in two and a half weeks from now on Wednesday, 29th April 2026.

The return of writ for the by-election is planned if all goes as organised on Monday, 04 May 2026.

Written by: Jasmine Netzler 

ATA: Office of the Electoral Commission – Samoa