West Kwara’e electorate in Malaita Province now has a new Member of Parliament (MP). He is Tuasulia Alfred J.M.
The new West Kwara’ae MP polled 2571 votes in total to claim the famous victory over other eleven rival candidates who contested against him for the vacant West Kwara’ae Parliamentary seat.
Returning Officer (RO) for West Kwara’ae by-election Pearson Simi announced the winning candidate following the completion of the counting at around 5:00am this morning.
The winning candidate led from the start by polling the majority of the votes in six of the seven batches counted.
In batch one which consisted of five ballot boxes from the following polling stations: Anoabu, Buma 1, Gwailiki, Koa, and Anomasu the winning candidate polled 512 votes in total to set a decent lead.
In batch number two which consisted of four ballot boxes from the following polling stations: Airahu, Dala South, Kakalaano, and Kwaisiliniu the winning candidate polled 285 votes with a runaway lead.
In batch number three which consisted of five ballot boxes from the following polling stations: Bio, Fuliabu, Gwounaru’u, Oneone, and Dala North two, the winning candidate again polled a majority of 417 votes to maintain his huge lead ahead of his rival candidates.
When the counting reached batch number four, which consisted of four ballot boxes from the following polling stations: Buma 2, Dala North 1, Fote, and Kwaiabu the winning candidate for the second time reached the 500 mark by attracting 512 votes in total.
In batch number five which consisted of the following four polling stations: Areo, Faiako,Kwarea 2,and Tuini,the winning candidate polled 316 votes as he headed towards a likely landslide victory.
In batch number six which consisted of ballot boxes from the following four polling stations: Gwauoa, Laugwata, Data Atc, Pre Poll (Buma Village Community Hall), the winning candidate polled 354 votes.
In batch number seven and the final batch which consisted of ballot boxes from the following polling stations: Fauabu, Kakara, Kwarea 1, and Takwaodo the winning candidate polled 179 votes to solidify his famous victory.
The new West Kwara’ae MP contested the by-election as an independent candidate.
The margin between the winning candidate and the Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP) candidate Fred Ramoli who polled 958 votes is 1,613 votes.
Meanwhile the margin between the winning candidate and the candidate who settled for the last spot, Taendo Alfred who only managed to attract only eight votes, is 2,563.
MP. Tuasulia’s eleven rival candidates failed to attract over a thousand votes where only three managed to score over the 700 mark.
The newly elected MP for West Kwara’ae came second in the 2019 National General Election, which was won by the former MP Sam Iduri who was called to rest early this year following an illness.
The son of the former MP who is also amongst the 12 candidates who contested the West Kwara’ae Parliamentary vacant seat only polled less than 100 votes to settle for the 11th position.
The counting which started on Thursday 9:00am ended on Friday morning around 5:00am.
The full results of the West Kwara’ae by-election is as follows;
1. Tuasulia Alfred JM with 2,571 votes
2. Ramoli Fred with 958 votes
3. Laufilu Jerrylim with 881 votes
4. Gale Bernard with 783 votes
5. Mae Wilson with 521 votes
6. Kalu Solomon with 412 votes
7. Tonafalea Iven with 295 votes
8. Manui Solomon with 272 votes
9. Kako Ismael Rocky with 241votes
10. Lidimani David with 129 votes
11. Iduri Alex with 85 votes
12. Taendo Alfred with 8 votes
By WILSON SAENI in Auki
