Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi candidate Tea Tooala Peato has delivered a landslide win, collecting 742 votes in the race for the Fa’asaleleaga No.4 seat, according to unofficial results. 

Tea's victory after preliminary counts means the defeat of former Associate Minister of Health Tofa Lio Foleni of the Human Rights Protection Party, who garnered 220 votes.  

In this constituency, 2,156 people registered to vote and there were a total of six candidates vying for the privilege to represent the Fa’asaleleaga No.4 electoral constituency in Parliament. 

Tea, a former Member of Parliament told the Samoa Observer at his residence on the evening of General Elections, how grateful he was to his district for the opportunity to serve. 

The 81-year-old grandfather first entered politics in 1982 when Parliamentary terms were capped at three years. 

“I was in Parliament starting from 1985 for two consecutive terms. And then I lost and then I went back to work, but now I am retired and tending to our business.  

I am 81 years old, a bit old,” he said laughing.  

“But it’s my village that convinced me run for office again. They wanted change,” he said. 

He said the results of the Fa’asaleleaga No.4 vote depicted how much the constituency wanted change in government. 

“They have been wanting change for a long time, and this is the first time our elections have produced these types of results - a landslide, and that is a clear statement that our district wanted change,” said Tea. 

He said that in previous elections the results were always close, but this is the first time their district has seen such significant results. 

A father of eight with more than 40 grandchildren, Tea said the district has spoken and he will honour their request. 

Others who ran for office in this Constituency are Tooala Fetaua’i Tiatia who received 167 votes; Unasa Tauheia Levaai who collected 102 votes, and Unasa Viane Toala who received 149 votes, according to unofficial results.