Provisional results from vote counting in Tongatapu 8’s by-election this evening indicate Johnny Grattan Taione was the winner.
The first runner up was Viliami Sisifā while the third was the PTOA (Democrats) candidate Sosefo Ngavisi Hēhea. Candidate Sipaisi Kutu became fourth.
Only four candidates competed against each other for the chance to represent the constituency.
Tongatapu 8 voters went to the polls since this morning to elect a candidate to replace their former PTOA MP, the late Sēmisi Fakahau.
Tongatapu 8 is regarded as a PTOA stronghold.
The election of Taione appeared to show a political shift which could be interpreted as the constituents’ supporting candidates who had created projects to help locals such as operating night study programmes to assist local students.
Taione told his followers before the official launching of the election campaign period that he was putting a hold to his toilet construction project which was currently underway at his village of Vaini.
He said although there was no law to stop him from continuing to do it at the time, he decided to temporarily stop it to be fair to his rival candidates.
Jonny is a younger brother of former MP Sione Havea Taione. He is a New Zealand resident.
