SUVA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The final and official count for this year's general election of Samoa is currently underway in the South Pacific island nation, according to local media report on Monday.

The Samoa Observer daily reported that according to preliminary ballot counts, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) led by incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party led by former HRPP deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa are tied on 25 seats each in the 50-seat parliament.

The Samoa Electoral Commission has said that the general election, which was held on April 9, is peaceful and also urged patience as they go through the process of the final count.

The Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio said that nothing will happen until the final count is done and reported to Samoa's Head of State.

The official counting is expected to take up to two weeks before the official result is handed to Samoa's Head of State for official writs to allow for the Samoan parliament to be convened.

On April 9, a total of 189 Samoan candidates contested the 50 seats for a five-year term in the legislative assembly.

Samoa is a nation with a population of more than 190,000. The last general election was held in the island nation in 2016 with the HRPP winning a landslide victory. Enditem

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