The former Member of Parliament for Gagaifomauga No. 2 and Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) candidate, Sooalo Feo Mene has dropped out of the by-election next month. 

Instead, the former Associate Minister has thrown his support behind the Opposition party-endorsed candidate, Sooalo Fineaso Poka Sooalo. 

Sooalo Mene declined to comment when he was approached by the Samoa Observer. 

He previously was the M.P. for the constituency for two parliamentary terms until his defeat in the general election last year. 

Villagers from the Gagaifomauga No. 2 constituency were at the H.R.P.P. headquarter at Petesa on Thursday to show their consensus to support only one candidate. 

One of the matai, Sooalo Kome Mene said the villagers had initially agreed to have two candidates run for office “in case there are issues with the other one”. 

In the end, he said, they have agreed to let Sooalo Fineaso run while Sooalo Mene sits out the by-election. 

Asked what he meant by “other issues” faced by the candidate, the matai in response said there could be pre-election challenges questioning the nomination of the candidate. 

H.R.P.P. now has one candidate who will go head to head with the Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party-endorsed Lomia Tauloa Moafanua Siaaga.  The other two candidates are Independents: Falesaopule Vaialia Iosua and Foisala Lilo Tuu Ioane. 

The last day to withdraw nominations from the by-election is Friday 20 May. Pre-polling starts Wednesday 1 June as the country celebrates the 60^th Independence with polling on Friday 3 June. 

The Gagaifomauga No. 2 seat became vacant after former M.P. Vaele Sekuini Paiaaua passed away in March this year. 

Currently, the H.R.P.P holds 22 seats in the Legislative Assembly while the F.A.S.T. Government maintaining its 31-seat majority (excluding the vacant seat Gagaifomauga No. 2).

Following the swearing-in of the three additional women Members early this week, the seats in the House has expanded from 51 to 54.

F.A.S.T. had initially indicated three candidates sought endorsement from the ruling party but had opted to just endorse one for the upcoming by-election.