A second by-election is now required in Samoa after two candidates withdrew electoral challenges against each other.
The election night winner in Sagaga No 4. HRPP's Tuisa Tasi Patea and the losing candidate FAST's Tagaloatele Poloa had accused each other of treating and bribery.
But in the Supreme Court they announced they had withdrawn their claims and Tuisa has resigned his seat to allow for a by-election.
This is the first time this has happened in the history of electoral petitions according the Samoa Observer.
If both candidates had continued with the case and both been found guilty, they would ineligible to run again for 10 years.
This agreement allows them to run against each other in the by-election.
Samoa Parliament Photo: RNZ Pacific
It now leaves the FAST Party, which won the election by one seat, with 26 seats, and the caretaker government, the HRPP, with 23.
Of the 28 election petitions, six have been settled, four amicably
Tuilaepa adamant that parliament cannot convene yet
Samoa's caretaker HRPP prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi is claiming that parliament cannot convene until all electoral constituencies are represented.
Samoa's Supreme Court yesterday ruled the house must sit by this Monday, 5 July, at the latest.
It said the Head of State's May 20 order for parliament to convene was still valid.
But Tuila'epa told his 2AP radio programme yesterday all 51 constituencies must be represented.
With two by-election now due in Sagaga No.2 and Sagaga No 4, this is not possible.
However, the court said any further moves to delay parliament would be in contempt of court and may result in it recognising the swearing in of the election winning FAST party's 26 candidates in a tent outside parliament on 24 May.
