Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 18 December 1976. Following the election, Bernard Dowiyogo was elected President by Members of the Parliament.[1]

Background

In July 1976 Parliament had forced President Hammer DeRoburt – head of state since independence in 1968 – to resign after refusing to pass financial bills. However, within a few hours DeRoburt was re-elected president unopposed.[2]

Campaign

A total of 43 candidates contested the elections, two of whom were elected unopposed.[2]

An informal Nauru Party was formed prior to the election, the first party on the island. Its members were younger MPs who had been concerned about the country's economic policy and saw DeRoburt's government of making decisions without proper discussion.[2]

Results

15 of the 18 incumbents were re-elected. Lagumot Harris, MP for Ubenide, was surprisingly defeated.[2]

PartyVotes%Seats
Independents1,155100.0018
Total1,155100.0018
Valid votes1,15585.68
Invalid/blank votes19314.32
Total votes1,348100.00
Source: IPU

By constituency

Constituency Candidate Votes Notes
AiwoSamuel Edwin Tsitsi94.53Elected
Kinza Clodumar93.33Elected
Reginald Roderick Akiri67.72
August Detonga Deiye64.53
Clifford Andrew Simon58.92
Invalid/blank votes1
Total votes cast168
AnabarDavid Peter Gadaraoa70.35Elected
Obeira Menke59.10Elected
Agoko Doguape57.87
Felix Kun55.60
Jerry Waidabu35.65
Invalid/blank votes7
Total votes cast129
Anetan[lower-alpha 1]Roy Degoregore0Elected
Lawrence Stephen0Elected
Invalid/blank votes0
Total votes cast0
BoeHammer DeRoburt112.00Elected
Kenas Aroi89.67Elected
Gouradage Star62.33
Invalid/blank votes2
Total votes cast146
BuadaAustin Bernicke81.25Elected
Ruben James Kun67.35Elected
Totouwa Depaune62.47
Alec Hindmarsh Stephen55.48
Rennie Harris48.68
Vinson Franco Detenamo47.37
Invalid/blank votes0
Total votes cast148
MenengJames Ategan Bop120.05Elected
Bobby Ingitebo Eoe117.14Elected
Frank Canon96.00
Christmas Bam80.95
Rirainang Allan Thoma79.22
David Audi Dabwido74.42
Alec Dogaben Harris67.46
Invalid/blank votes4
Total votes cast249
UbenideBuraro Detudamo147.62Elected
Bernard Dowiyogo125.17Elected
Victor Eoaeo119.05Elected
Derog Gioura118.73Elected
Kennan Ranibok Adeang103.69
Lagumot Harris103.55
James DeLuckner71.68
Paul Lawrence Ribauw71.34
Mark Dennis Kun63.98
Joseph Laben Hiram60.06
Invalid/blank votes9
Total votes cast345
YarenJoseph Detsimea Audoa116.63Elected
Leo Depagadogi Keke72.63Elected
Alfred Derangdedage Dick65.33
Pres Nimes Dabwadauw63.12
John Binono Willis45.33
Invalid/blank votes4
Total votes cast163
Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 20 December, 1976

Aftermath

The newly elected Parliament met on 21 December and re-elected Kenas Aroi was re-elected as Speaker. After DeRoburt refused to listen to suggestions that he appoint some new ministers to his cabinet, he lost the vote for president to Bernard Dowiyogo by nine votes to seven.[2] Following the election, Nauru Party MPs met with DeRoburt and promised that Dowiyogo would resign and allow him to run unopposed if he reconsidered making changes to his cabinet. However, he refused, taking the view that the president should be free to choose their own cabinet.[2]

Dowiyogo appointed a new cabinet, including Aroi, who subsequently resigned as Speaker. Samuel Tsitsi was elected in his place.[2]

Position Minister
President
Minister for External Affairs
Minister of Justice
Minister for the Public Service		Bernard Dowiyogo
Minister for Finance
Minister Assisting the President		Kinza Clodumar
Minister for Health
Minister for Education		Lawrence Stephen
Minister for Islands Development and Industry
Minister for Civil Aviation		Kenas Aroi
Minister for Works and Community ServicesRuben Kun

On 24 December, DeRoburt called a special session of parliament to propose a motion that the new government had been formed outside the constitution, which did not provide for party politics.[2] The debate was halted when Tsisti resigned as Speaker, also giving up his seat in Parliament. The following week David Gadaroa was elected as the third Speaker of the parliamentary term.[2]

The Supreme Court later overturned the election of Derog Gioura. Kennan Adeang was declared elected in his place.[4] In 1977 MP René Harris – who had replaced Tsitsi after his resignation – was removed from Parliament after being convicted of assault. In the subsequent by-election, he was re-elected with 95 votes, defeating Reginald Akiri (41 votes), John Bill (12) and August Deiye (10).[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ In the Anetan Constituency, there were only two candidates for parliament in 1976. The constituency only has two seats, so the two candidates won by default, and in this constituency, there was no election.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Nauru Inter-Parliamentary Union
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 No fun and games when party politics creep up on Nauru Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1977, pp8–10
  3. ↑ Gillett, S. (6 December 1976). "CANDIDATES NOMINATED" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (61): 5.
  4. 1 2 A bouncer! Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1977, p20
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