2008 Nauruan parliamentary election

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2008 Nauruan parliamentary election
Nauru
← 2007 April 26, 2008 April 2010 →

All 18 seats in the Parliament of Nauru
Party Seats
Supporters of Marcus Stephen

12
Other independents

6
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
President before President-designate
Marcus Stephen
Independent
Marcus Stephen
Independent

Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on April 26, 2008,[1] following the dissolving of Parliament by President Marcus Stephen on April 18. The decision came after what Stephen referred to as "months of political deadlock". Of the parliament's eighteen members, nine supported the Stephen government and nine were in opposition.[2][3]

Events leading to election[edit]

The deadlock had been exacerbated by a crisis between the President and the Speaker of Parliament, Opposition member David Adeang. On March 22, Adeang had called a Parliamentary session, allegedly without informing government ministers, who therefore did not attend. Opposition MPs, Adeang included, constituted a majority of legislators present, and passed a ruling outlawing dual citizenship for Members of Parliament. The ruling, if applied, would have affected senior Cabinet ministers Dr. Kieren Keke and Frederick Pitcher. Had they been compelled to resign from Parliament, the Opposition would have controlled a majority of seats in Parliament. The law was overturned as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court,[4] and Adeang subsequently sought to suspend all pro-government MPs from Parliament, citing their allegedly "unruly behaviour".[5] A week later, Stephen dissolved Parliament.

Two observers from the Pacific Islands Forum were present to monitor the election, at the request of the Nauruan government.[6]

There were 65 candidates for the 18 seats, among whom were former Presidents Ludwig Scotty and René Harris.[7]

Results[edit]

All nine supporters of Stephen (Stephen himself, Kieren Keke, Mathew Batsiua, Roland Kun, Frederick Pitcher, Sprent Dabwido, former Speaker Riddell Akua, Dominic Tabuna and Rykers Solomon) were reelected, while three opposition MPs (former President René Harris, Cyril Buraman and Fabian Ribauw) lost their seats;[8] the government claims it has thus won the election.[9] Indeed, all three newly elected MPs joined the government and thereby ended the legislative deadlock.[10] The new parliament was expected to hold its first session on 29 April 2008.[11]

PartyVotes%Seats
Supporters of Marcus Stephen12
Other candidates6
Total18
Total votes4,607
Registered voters/turnout5,23588.00
Source: ABC Radio Australia, IPU

By constituency[edit]

Constituency Candidate Votes Notes
Aiwo Dantes Tsitsi 225.83 Re-elected
Godfrey Awaire Thoma 203.32 Re-elected after previous defeat[8]
Aaron Stein Cook 187.43
René Harris 181.70 Unseated
Preston Thoma 152.77
Elkoga Gadabu 136.75
Invalid/blank votes 4
Total Votes Cast 448
Anabar Ludwig Derangadage Scotty 240.43 Re-elected
Riddell Akua 227.67 Re-elected
Tyrone Deiye 146.58
James Deireragea 146.52
David Peter Gadaraoa 125.06
Espen Jubal Fritz 105.12
Andre Adun 104.53
Corey Menke 100.96
Christopher Agiar Quadina 87.48
Invalid/blank votes 13
Total Votes Cast 467
Anetan Marcus Stephen 325.57 Re-elected
Landon Deireragea 236.35 Elected
Cyril Buraman 228.27 Unseated
Remy Namaduk 211.02
Fabian Ika 181.57
Invalid/blank votes 6
Total Votes Cast 524
Boe Mathew Batsiua 266.88 Re-elected
Baron Divavesi Waqa 229.18 Re-elected
Vollmer Mercury Appi 178.00
Bernard Grundler 168.37
Morgan Solomon 136.33
Samuel Robinen Angabwiy 118.83
Invalid/blank votes 2
Total Votes Cast 450
Buada Shadlog Bernicke 193.30 Re-elected
Roland Kun 185.79 Re-elected
Vinson Franco Detenamo 175.41
Monte Depaune 150.95
Alexander George Stephen 135.82
Lionel Abungidage Fritz 114.13
Yvette Duburiya 112.86
Invalid/blank votes 8
Total Votes Cast 420
Meneng Rykers Solomon 320.23 Re-elected
Sprent Dabwido 316.20 Re-elected
Doneke Benedict Kepae 225.19
Dogabe Jeremiah 207.75
Nemo Levi Agadio 187.62
Russell David Daoe 168.15
Jeziel Jeremiah 156.50
Darius Rock 147.62
Joseph Laben Hiram 144.22
Davey Roxen Agadio 137.62
Rick Daoe 136.04
Invalid/blank votes 25
Total Votes Cast 736
Ubenide Frederick William Pitcher 481.59 Re-elected
David Adeang 406.76 Re-elected
Valdon Kape Dowiyogo 383.00 Re-elected
Aloysius Iyomogo Amwano 308.47 Re-elected after three previous defeats[8]
Ruston Marcus Kun 287.68
Fabian Ribauw 260.03 Unseated
Alf Itsimaera 222.96
Renos Renige Agege 190.52
Michael Grillo Dekarube 183.29
Adonis Gioura 183.09
Skipper Hiram 176.89
Briar-Rose Alona 173.74
Ceila Cecilia Giouba 173.74
Michael Fury Roland 169.59
Dempsey Keppa 168.17
Invalid/blank votes 48
Total Votes Cast 1,184
Yaren Dominic Joselito Tabuna 227.83 Re-elected
Kieren Keke 222.95 Re-elected
Charmaine Scotty 166.90
John Daigon Julius 110.82
Brian Joseph Amwano 101.22
Johnny Taumea Agadio 91.48
Invalid/blank votes 2
Total Votes Cast 378
Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 26 April, 2008

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Nauru parliament dissolved before April 26 election", The China Post (Taiwan), April 19, 2008
  2. ^ Phil Mercer, "Nauru president calls snap polls", BBC News, April 18, 2008
  3. ^ "Nauru declares state of emergency and fresh elections", ABC Radio Australia, April 18, 2008
  4. ^ "Nauru judge blocks citizenship law change", ABC Radio Australia, April 8, 2008
  5. ^ "Nauru speaker suspends all government members". Radio New Zealand International. April 11, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  6. ^ "Observers for Nauru election" Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji Times, April 23, 2008
  7. ^ "65 candidates to contest Nauru parliament seats". Radio New Zealand International. April 22, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c "PPAPD - Nauru Elections return Stephen-led Government". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  9. ^ "Nauru government claims poll win", BBC News, April 27, 2008.
  10. ^ "Nauru political deadlock ends", Associated Press, April 28, 2008.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Gov't wins increased majority in Nauru", AFP (The China Post), April 28, 2008.