List of Solomon Islands by-elections

This is a list of by-elections to the National Parliament of Solomon Islands since the First Parliament in 1976, with the names of the incumbent and victor and (when known) their respective parties. Where seats changed political party at the election, and where that change is known, the result is highlighted: yellow for a Democratic Party gain.

The source for most of this information is the parliamentary website.[1]

First Parliament (1976–1980)

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By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Vona Vona-Rendova-Tetepare 1977 Francis Aqorau (unknown) John Talasasa (unknown) Death
West Kwara'ae 1978 Fr. John Gerea (unknown) Allan Taki (unknown) Resignation

Second Parliament (1980–1984)

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None.

Third Parliament (1984–1989)

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By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
West Guadalcanal 1985 George Kejoa Independent George Kejoa Independent
West ꞌAreꞌare 1985 David Kausimae People's Alliance Party Andrew Nori People's Alliance Party
Gizo/Kolombangara 1985 George Ngumi Independent Joini Tutua People's Alliance Party

Fourth Parliament (1989–1993)

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By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
North East Guadalcanal 1989 Waita Ben Tabusasi Independent Hilda Kari People's Alliance Party Elected Speaker[2]
East Honiara 1990 Bartholomew Ulufa'alu Liberal Party Charles Dausabea (unknown) Resignation
East ꞌAreꞌare 1992 Peter Kenilorea United Party Edward Huni'ehu (unknown) Resignation

Fifth Parliament (1993–1997)

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By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
East Honiara 1994 Charles Dausabea SIGNUR John Maetia Kauluae (unknown) Petitioned[3]

Sixth Parliament (1997–2001)

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By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
West Makira January 2000 Solomon Mamaloni People's Progressive Party Jackson Suna'one (unknown) Death (kidney disease)
Gao/Bugotu June 2001 James Tarasele Saliga (unknown) William Harry Gigini (unknown) Death

Seventh Parliament (2001–2006)

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By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Gao/Bugotu 27 November 2002 Eric Notere (unknown) Basil Manelegua AIMP Petitioned
South Guadalcanal 27 November 2002 Augustine Geve (unknown) Victor Totu (unknown) Assassinated
North Malaita 1 December 2004 Daniel Fa'afunua People's Alliance Daniel Enele Kwanairara (unknown) Disqualified
Ulawa/Ugi 1 December 2004 Nathaniel Waena (unknown) James Tora (unknown) Elected Governor-General
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
East Malaita 27 March 2008 Joses Wawari Sanga National Party Manasseh Maelanga (unknown) unknown
Aoke/Langalanga 28 March 2008 Bartholomew Ulufa'alu Liberal Party Matthew Cooper Wale Democratic Party Death
Lau/Mbaelelea 23 September 2008 Bentley Samuel Rogosomani Independent Walter Folotalu (unknown) unknown
East Honiara 25 September 2008 Charles Dausabea Independent Silas Milikada (unknown) Jailed following conviction for fraud
Central Guadalcanal 6 May 2009 Peter Shanel Agovaka Independent Peter Shanel Agovaka
(Incumbent re-elected)
Independent unknown
Russells/Savo 29 October 2009 Allan Kemakeza People's Alliance Allan Kemakeza
(Incumbent re-elected)[4]
People's Alliance Jailed following conviction for "demanding with menace, intimidation and larceny"
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Shortlands 30 March 2011 Steve Laore Independent Christopher Laore Independent Death
Baegu/Asifola 30 March 2011 Toswel Kaua Independent David Tome Independent Death
North Malaita 1 August 2012 Jimmy Lusibaea Independent Vika Lusibaea Independent Gaoled following conviction for assault and grievous bodily harm
East ꞌAreꞌare 1 August 2012 Andrew Hanaria People's Congress Andrew Manepora'a Independent Petitioned[5]
Nggela 27 February 2013 Mark Kemakeza Liberal Party Johnley Hatimoana (unknown) Gaoled for embezzlement.[6]
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
Gizo/Kolombangara 23 May 2018 Jimson Fiau Tanangada United Democratic Party Lanelle Tanangada Independent Convicted of bribing voters
By-election Date Incumbent Party Winner Party Cause
East Makira 11 December 2019 Charles Maefai Independent Lillian Maefai Independent Death
North East Guadalcanal 18 November 2020 Jaimie Vokia Independent Ethel Lency Vokia Independent Found guilty of bribing voters.[7]
Central Honiara 18 November 2020 John Moffat Fugui United Democratic Party Alfred Efona United Party Found guilty of bribery
South Choiseul 19 May 2021 Robertson Galokale Independent Sammy Galo Independent Petitioned
West Kwaio 21 September 2022 Titus Mokofi Fika Independent Claudius Tei'ifi United Party Death
West Kwara'ae 24 May 2023 Sam Iduri Independent Alfred Tuasulia Independent Death

Notable by-elections

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The 1989 by-election in the North-East Guadalcanal constituency, prompted by Waita Ben Tabusasi's election as Speaker,[2] resulted in a woman, Hilda Kari, being elected to Parliament for the first time.[8][9]

Notes and references

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  1. ^ "Members", National Parliament of Solomon Islands
  2. ^ a b In contrast with the United Kingdom, in Solomon Islands a sitting MP may not be Speaker. The Speaker is generally elected from outside Parliament (such as a former MP who has lost his seat), but on this one occasion a sitting MP was elected to the position, necessitating that he resign.
  3. ^ "Petitioned" means that the initial election was voided by a court ruling due to irregularities following a petition from a rival candidate or other person in the constituency.
  4. ^ Kemakeza's re-election was subsequently voided by court order, as he was under a suspended jail sentence at the time. With a general election coming up by that point, there was no second by-election.("Sir Allan loses his seat again", Solomon Star, 27 February 2010)
  5. ^ Election voided due to bribery.
  6. ^ "Solomon Islands Gela constituency has a new MP", PINA, 4 March 2013
  7. ^ News, Sol Star. "Vokias' case adjourned". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 28 March 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ New politics in the South Pacific, 1994, p.205
  9. ^ “Women Candidates Training Workshop 2010”, Centre for Democratic Institutions