Democracy is in motion and people intending to contest the 2026 general elections are slowly declaring their intent to contest. Some, including public servants, have declared theirs and some have the blessing of chiefs.

It is a democratic and constitutional right for a person to contest in an election, a little different in Samoa on who can contest but it is a right. However, there is always a danger when public servants declare their intent to run and even choose the party they wish to stand for. This takes away the notion of neutrality from a public servant which is a key requirement when serving the people of this land.

Electric Power Corporation (EPC) Savaii Manager, Asiata Tavui Tafu was recently backed by senior matai of Satupaitea district to contest the 2026 general elections under the Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) banner. While the incumbent may not do so while at work, there is always the danger of using EPC resources for his political ambitions.

The Electoral Act states that once the nomination of a candidate who is a public servant or a government officer is accepted, he or she needs to resign immediately. The call for nominations has not been made by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner. It feels that by prematurely declaring candidacies, a year before general elections, there could be an abuse of public resources.

The Samoa Public Service Code of Conduct states, “The employees should act apolitically and serve the Government with impartiality, regardless of which party is in power and which party they personally support.”

Public servants serve the government of the day and successive governments, regardless of their political composition. Will public servants who declare their candidacy be able to do this?

This means public servants must always act in a way that maintains the confidence of the current government and ensures the same relationship can be established with future governments. What if, after declaring your intent, your views do not align with the government’s?

It is never acceptable for a public servant acting in an official capacity to express their personal political views in a way that raises questions about their ability to perform their role in a politically neutral way. Expressing such views impacts the confidence of the public in the political neutrality of the public service. This also applies to those working for state-owned enterprises.

Some who have declared their intention to contest have already started visiting constituencies they intend to represent. The ‘service’ has already started. Some have started spending money as part of that service and the visits. It is hard to say that a public servant intending to contest may not use government resources to render this service.

It is also not uncommon for public servants to have political aspirations. From the past elections, we have seen so many public servants and government officers aspire to become politicians. It must be the power or lure of money, or in genuine cases, the actual intent to serve people. This may also be a call to allow everyone the equal right to contest an election

Section 8 of the Electoral Act 2019 states that a person is qualified to run as a candidate for elections if that person: (c) is a holder of a registered matai title for the Constituency the person intends to represent. This traditional yet archaic requirement still stands, even though for the last 35 years, every Samoan has been given the right to vote.

The traditional argument for only a matai to be able to contest the election remains that being a matai means that the person knows about service to his or her village. The problem with this notion is that not all matai serve. Being a matai gives a person a higher social stature. In a traditional Pacific or Samoa setting, matai or chief do not serve, they are served.

This is reflected in the performance and the attitude of many parliamentarians who feel they are not accountable to the people who have voted them in. It has also been argued that anyone in Samoa can become a matai. This takes us back to the problem of matai titles being up for sale. Expect many new bestowments until the nomination date.

Have a blessed day, Samoa.