Noble Tu'’ipelehake (49) won the Tongatapu Nobles' By-Election today, and took the seat in the Tonga Legislative Assembly that was vacated by his brother, the late Prince Tu'ipelehake.

Noble Tu'ipelehake will become the Tongatapu No. 1 Nobles' Representative.

Pita Vuki, the Election Supervisor, said only 11 out of the 16 Tongatapu nobles cast their votes at the Palace Office this morning. The two nobles who were away overseas and did not cast their votes were Noble Fielakepa and Tungi, (a title that is held by the king), while the nobles Fohe and Vaha'i did not cast their votes.

The 16 Tongatapu nobles titles (held by 15 people) are: Lavaka, Ata, Fakafanua, Tu'ipelehake, Kalaniuvalu, Lasike, Ma'afu, Nuku, Tu'ivakano, Vaea, Ve'ehala, 'Ahome'e, Fielakepa, Fohe, Vaha'i and Tungi.

Noble Tu'ipelehake won the election with nine votes, followed by his cousin Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata with two votes.

Noble Tu'ipelehake (formerly Hon. Mailefihi) was bestowed the hereditary title Tu'ipelehake on August 1 at the Royal Palace, Nuku...’alofa, following the death of his older brother the late Prince Tu...’ipelehake in a USA road accident on July 5.