Electoral Minister rejects call for inquiry into OEC

The Minister for the Office of the Electoral Commission, Lefau Harry Schuster, has rejected outright a call from Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi for a Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the OEC during and after the 9 April 2021 General Elections.

TV1Samoa reports Lefau saying there is no reason an inquiry should be made just because the son of the Speaker was arrested during a drug raid.

Tuilaepa told a press conference on Thursday morning that there is a need to clarify in an inquiry that no “trickery” was done by an assistant Electoral Commissioner, recently arrested on drugs charges, that may have affected the outcome of elections for some candidates for the Human Rights Protection Party.

Afualo Daryl Mapu, the son of Speaker Papalii Ta’eu Masipa’u, was arrested by Police during a recent drug raid on his property at Nu’u-fou village, along with a female who also worked at the OEC.

Tuilaepa said it is hard not to be suspicious about the activities of the OEC following the arrest of staff on drugs charges.

“These suspicions will not go away unless we have a Commission of Inquiry into the handling of the elections by these officials”.

TAG: Talanei, TV1 Samoa.