The Vaimauga West by-election was a by-election

By-election

A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....

 in the Samoa

Samoa

Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...

n constituency of Vaimauga West. It took place on 6 May 2007, and was precipitated by the death of MP Sililoto Tolo Tuaifaiva.

Ten candidates contested the election, eight of them on behalf of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party

Human Rights Protection Party

The Human Rights Protection Party is a Samoan political party. It has been the dominant party in Samoan politics since 1982.The party was co-founded in May 1979 by Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana in opposition to the government of Tupuola Efi...

.
The election was won by Patu Ativalu

Patu Ativalu

Patu Ativalu Togi II is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.Ativalu was first elected to Parliament as a member of the Samoan Democratic United Party in the 2001 election, but he lost his seat at the 2006 election He re-entered...

. While previously a member of the Samoa Democratic United Party, Ativalu announced his intention to join the HRRP if elected, after a request from his village. Following the election Ativalu was accused of bribery and treating, but no election petition was filed.