The interim leader of a newly formed political party in Samoa says they will challenge a ruling that has resulted in nine MPs with affiliations to the party losing their seats.
Under the Electoral Act, MPs cannot join a new party during parliament's five year term.
The Speaker has ruled that the nine did join a new Tautua Samoa party and have therefore been disqualified from holding their seats.
But the party's interim leader, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, says all the MPs remain independents and the party is being formed outside government in preparation for the next elections.
He believes the Speaker's ruling puts Samoa's government in a bad light:
"We feel sorry for integrity of this party and the country as a whole because it's going to reflect really bad on the nation's reputation and also the parliament as a whole because on this day democracy has really in Samoa."
The Tautua Samoa Party plans to take out an injunction against the Speaker's ruling once Independence Day celebrations end.
