Lord Nuku wins 'Eua nobles by-election [1]
Thursday, August 2, 2012 - 13:52. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Lord Nuku. 2 August 2012.
Photos by Linny Folau.
Lord Nuku returns to the Tonga Legislative Assembly after winning the 'Eua Nobles Representative seat in this morning's nobles by-election, at the Palace Office in Nuku'alofa.
The Election Supervisor Pita Vuki said Lord Nuku won with eight votes followed by Noble Vaha'i with two votes, while Prince Ata and Lord Ve'ehala had one vote each.
Lord Nuku replaces former Speaker of the Tonga Legislative Assembly Lord Lasike who lost his seat, after he was convicted on a charge of unlawful possession of ammunition, at the Supreme Court.
Pita said 12 nobles cast their votes, including three votes faxed in from Prince Ata, Lord Kalaniuvalu and Lord Tevita Tupou who were abroad. Two nobles who did not vote included Lavaka (a title that remains with King Tupou VI) and Lord Fielakepa.
Nobles present at the by-election were Lord Nuku, Lord Vaea, Prince Tungi, Lord Tu'ivakano, Lord Vaha'i, Lord Ma'afu, and Lord Ve'ehala, with life peers Lord Feleti Sevele and Lord Ramsay Robertson Dalgety.
The nobles who were eligible to stand for election for 'Eua were: 'Ahome'e, Ata, Fielakepa, Fohe, Kalaniuvalu, Lavaka, Ma'afu, Nuku, Tu'ivakano, Tungi, Vaea, Vaha'i, and Ve'ehala.
The three life peers who have registered to vote for 'Eua are Lord Ramsay Robertson Dalgety, Lord Tevita Poasi Tupou and Lord Feleti Sevele.
Lord Nuku is to be sworn in at Parliament at 2pm this afternoon, when the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly continue in Nuku'alofa.