A farmer and businessman from Lefagaoali'i in Savai'i is taking his first step into the political arena and will contest the Gagaifomauga No. 2 by-election scheduled for this week.

The 50-year-old Foisala Lilo Tu'u Ioane is one of four candidates contesting the by-election and is confident of his chances in representing his village and the constituency in the Legislative Assembly.

He said he did not take his decision to run for public office lightly, and it was not made overnight as the elders of his village of Lefagaoali'i pressured him to consider politics.

"I am a Samoan matai who stays here in the village," Fo'isala told the Samoa Observer on Saturday. "I had plans to contest in the General Election last year. 

"However, because of personal reasons, I decided not to but now that we are heading back to the polls, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to pursue that dream of becoming a Member of Parliament. 

"But to tell you the truth, it is the pressure from the elders of our village that made me want to contest, they have asked me time and time again to run and I don't want to be ignorant and refused their requests."

Fo'isala said his political aspirations have been well received by his village who initially asked him to run in the first place.

Asked about his plans for the constituency should he wins, Fo'isala said that he is not a man who makes promises. 

"All I can say is that the late M.P., Vaele had already cut the pieces of the cake for this constituency," he said. "So all that's left to do is for someone to step up and distribute it to the constituents. 

"Our M.P. who passed away had already presented the wishes and the needs of the constituency to the government and parliament. 

"I assure you that I strongly support the requests made by Vaele, and the developments for this constituency he had presented to the Government."

Initially, Fo'isala wanted to run as a candidate for the ruling Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party. But the F.A.S.T. caucus had already endorsed Lomia Tauloa Moafanua as their sole candidate, leading to Fo'isala opting to run as an Independent. 

He admitted that he supports the policies and manifesto of the ruling party and have plans to join them should the constituents of Gagaifomauga No.2. vote him to become their voice in parliament. 

"We now have a government and as I mentioned before, Vaele had already presented the needs of this constituency to the governments and in parliament,"  Fo'isala said.

"The Government had already approved some of these projects and all that's left to be done is for the M.P. to deliver it and implement it within the constituency. 

"So it would be silly to join the other party but that does not mean I favour the F.A.S.T. party over the Opposition party. 

"The Human Rights Protection Party has done a lot for Samoa when they were at the helm."

Asked if he is confident in his preparations for polling, Fo'isala said: "I am comforted by the fact that I have the support of my family, my village and my relatives near and far praying and supporting me. 

"But God already knows who will be chosen. So if it's His will that I get chosen, it will happen. 

"If not, I will gladly accept whatever outcome we get and I promise to support whoever wins on Friday."

Fo'isala is married to Rosamile Tu'u and they have two children. He also holds the Unasa title from Faga, Polataivao from Fagae'e, Tiatia from Gataivai, Tagaloa and Faiumu from Taga. 

He is up against F.A.S.T. candidate Lomia Tauloa Moafanua as well as H.R.P.P. candidate, So'oalo Fineaso Poka and another Independent candidate, Falesaopule Vaialia Iosua. 

The constituents of Gagaifomauga No.2 will head to the polls on Friday 3 June with pre-polling scheduled for Wednesday  1 June 2022. The electoral constituency is made up of the villages of Paia, Samauga, Lefagaoali'i, Matavai, Faletagaloa and Fatuvalu Safune.

The Gagaifomauga No.2 by-election is being held to replace the late M.P. Vaele Iona Pa'ia'aua Sekuini who passed away in March this year.