After taking an early lead, Tongatapu's three incumbent People's Representatives have roared ahead of the competition in today's general election, re-establishing themselves with clear popular support in the Tongan Legislature.

'Akilisi Pohiva who polled an impressive 11,290 votes tonight, emerges with more support than he had three years ago when he captured 11,225 votes in the 2005 general election.

The Tongatapu no. 2 PR incumbent, 'Isileli Pulu, although losing around 13% of his support, managed to retain his seat with 7048 votes, still ahead of Clive Edwards, but not by much.

Most upwardly mobile, was the Tongatapu no. 3 PR, Clive Edwards, with 6697 votes, realising a 22.7% gain on the 5459 votes that marked his By-election entry to the Tongtapu no. 3 PR seat in May 2005.

Newcomer, Sangstar Saulala of Tofoa with 5451 votes couldn...’t match the success of Edwards but the former television personality clocked up more votes than many first time contenders have done in the past.

Other first timers 'Inoke Hu'akau and Sione Fonua, along with Semisi Tapueluelu have not reached the 3000 mark, while the top woman contender Mele 'Amanaki scraped-up half that number.

There were 150 polling stations from throughout Tonga to be counted, tonight, and while most of the Tongatapu results are in, the final tallies still have to be officially confirmed by the Registrar of Electors, who will also resolve the discrepancies between the total figures announced and the figures read out for individual polling stations on Radio Tonga tonight.

See the Tongatapu chart for details of the polling stations. [2]


 

See the Tongatapu chart for details of the polling stations. [2]