11 Mar 2016

Samoa final elections results expected today

8:52 am on 11 March 2016

Samoa's final election results are expected to be released later today according to the Electoral Commission's office.

Electoral office in Mulinuu

Electoral office in Mulinuu Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Electoral officials will meet with the Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, at 3pm today, to get his endorsement of the results, after which the final results can be made public.

Preliminary results have the ruling HRPP with 44 of the 49 seats.

The opposition Tautua Samoa party's former leader, Palusalue Faapo II, has blamed his party's defeat on vote buying through bribery and treating.

It is now for the law to deal with such matters according to the acting Electoral Commissioner, Faimalotumua Mathew Lemisio.

"Once we publicise the final results then candidates are required to file their electoral petition within 10 days, so it's with the courts." he said.