Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 26 April 2008,"Nauru parliament dissolved before April 26 election", The China Post (Taiwan), April 19, 2008 following the dissolving of Parliament by President Marcus Stephen on 18 April. 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.Phil Mercer, "Nauru president calls snap polls", BBC News, April 18, 2008"Nauru declares state of emergency and fresh elections", ABC Radio Australia, April 18, 2008
Events leading to election
The deadlock had been exacerbated by a crisis between the President and the Speaker of Parliament, Opposition member David Adeang. On 22 March, 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,"Nauru judge blocks citizenship law change", ABC Radio Australia, April 8, 2008 and Adeang subsequently sought to suspend all pro-government MPs from Parliament, citing their allegedly "unruly behaviour". 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."Observers for Nauru election" , Fiji Times, April 23, 2008
There were 65 candidates for the 18 seats, among whom were former Presidents Ludwig Scotty and René Harris.
Results 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; the government claims it has thus won the election."Nauru government claims poll win", BBC News, April 27, 2008. Indeed, all three newly elected MPs joined the government and thereby ended the legislative deadlock."Nauru political deadlock ends", Associated Press, April 28, 2008. The new parliament was expected to hold its first session on 29 April 2008."Gov't wins increased majority in Nauru", AFP (The China Post), April 28, 2008.
By constituency ConstituencyCandidateVotesNotesAiwo Dantes Tsitsi 225.83 Re-elected Godfrey Thoma 203.32 Re-elected after previous defeat Aaron Cook 187.43 René Harris 181.70 Unseated Preston Thoma 152.77 Elkoga Gadabu 136.75 Invalid/blank votes4Total Votes Cast448Anabar Ludwig 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 votes13Total Votes Cast467Anetan 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 votes6Total Votes Cast524Boe Mathew Batsiua 266.88 Re-elected Baron 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 votes2Total Votes Cast450Buada Shadlog Bernicke 193.30 Re-elected Roland Kun 185.79 Re-elected Vinson Detenamo 175.41 Monte Depaune 150.95 Alexander George Stephen 135.82 Lionel Abungidage Fritz 114.13 Yvette Duburiya 112.86 Invalid/blank votes8Total Votes Cast420Meneng 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 votes25Total Votes Cast736Ubenide Freddie Pitcher 481.59 Re-elected David Adeang 406.76 Re-elected Valdon Dowiyogo 383.00 Re-elected Aloysius Amwano 308.47 Re-elected after three previous defeats 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 votes48Total Votes Cast1,184Yaren Dominic 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 votes2Total Votes Cast378Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 26 April 2008
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