Following decisions by the Appellate Division of the High Court, chief election officer Tuaolo M. Fruean last Wednesday certified as “official” the election results for House of Representatives District No. 9 — Ma’oputasi #3,  and District No. 14 — Alataua.

For District No. 9, there were two candidates: challenger Meauta Lauoi Mageo and incumbent Rep. Va’amua Sesepasara. According to the certified results, Mageo is the “official winner” with 356 votes while Va’amua received 292 votes.

In his court petition, Va’amua alleged that Meauta is a convicted felon off island and therefore not eligible to be a candidate. But during a Nov. 20 hearing, the court issued a verbal dismissal saying that the issue of qualification of members rests with the House of Representatives, not the court.

The court will release soon a written decision on the case. (See Nov. 21 edition of Samoa News for details).

For District No. 14, the three candidates are challengers Fatumalala L. Al-Shehri and Samatua Edwin Hollister against incumbent House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale. According to the certified results, Savali has retained his seat and is the “official winner” with 272 votes; followed by Hollister with 108 votes and Al-Shehri with 48 votes.

In her court complaint, Al-Shehri had alleged that there were a number of incidents which occurred on election day that constituted election fraud. But the court ruled last week that the challenger failed to present clear and convincing evidence to support such allegations, and therefore the complaint was dismissed. (Details in Nov. 28 edition of Samoa News.)

Mageo and Savali along with other winners of the general election will be sworn into office at 12noon on Jan. 3, 2015. After the new House of Representatives takes office, the next issue on the agenda is the election of the Speaker followed by the Chief House Clerk and the Sergeant at Arms.

So far, Savali is the only known candidates for the Speaker’s race.

There are 20-elected members of the House, while the 21st member is the Swains Island delegate, who can vote in committee but not on the House floor.