The leader of the Samoa Tautua Party says that the order by Cabinet for public servants to resign before they run for Parliament is illegal.
Va'ai Papu says the order violates the Electoral Act which allows public servants to take leave to run for Parliament.
He says the order affects six of the Tautua Party candidates and about 10 candidates of caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi's party, HRPP.
Va'ai says the order wouldn't have been made if the Tautua candidates were not ones with a good chance of winning.
Attorney General Tuatagaloa Ming Leung Wai says the Cabinet directive was an urgent one that will be clarified when Cabinet meets soon.
