Early parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 12 November 1977, after Parliament had been dissolved by President Bernard Dowiyogo due to a sustained campaign against the government led by former President Hammer DeRoburt, who had been voted out of office the previous year. Particular controversy had been caused by the Supply Act passed in June, and Dowiyogo stated that elections would be held to give him a mandate.[1] After Parliament failed to approve the budget, Dowiyogo asked Speaker David Gadaroa to dissolve the legislature.[2]

Nine seats were won by supporters of Dowiyogo (who ran under the Nauru Party banner), eight by those of DeRoburt, and one by a candidate without any affiliation, but who supported the Nauru Party.[1] Following the election, Dowiyogo was re-elected President by Parliament on 15 November.

Campaign

A total of 52 candidates contested the 18 seats.[3]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats
Nauru Party9
DeRoburt supporters8
Independents1
Total18
Valid votes1,55797.37
Invalid/blank votes422.63
Total votes1,599100.00
Source: IPU, Gazette

By constituency

Constituency Candidate Votes Notes
AiwoRené Reynaldo Harris97.0071Elected
Kinza Godfrey Clodumar88.2904Elected
Theodore Conrad Moses71.4167
Samuel Edwin Tsitsi 62.5261
Deidienak Anako Daniel54.3261
Reginald Roderick Akiri48.3238
August Detonga Deiye42.2309
Invalid/blank votes1
Total votes cast180
AnabarObeira Menke95.0833Elected
David Peter Gadaraoa76.6667Elected
Maein Deireragea68.3333
Agoko James Doguape59.9167
Invalid/blank votes0
Total votes cast144
AnetanRoy Demanganuwe Degorogore115.3333Elected
Adago Deinuwea Bucky Idarabwe104.5000Elected
Lawrence Stephen92.3333
Rimone Jack Tom73.2500
Invalid/blank votes1
Total votes cast186
BoeHammer DeRoburt123.7500Elected
Kenas Aroi86.2500Elected
Alexander Deraoadi Deiye67.2500
Bill Gouratake Star58.1666
Invalid/blank votes1
Total votes cast162
BuadaRuben James Kun89.6333Elected
Totouwa Depaune84.2500Elected
Deang Detabene73.0833
Alec Hindermarsh Stephen68.7000
Rennie Angin Harris51.9500
Invalid/blank votes6
Total votes cast167
MenengJames Ategan Bop117.2333Elected
Bobby Ingitebo Ralph Eoe108.3096Elected
Frank Sinatra Jannecke Canon105.2834
Denimidaoao Christmas Bam76.1047
Paul Denebauwa Jeremiah74.8500
David Audi Areyamago Dabwido66.3023
Alec Dogaben Jimrock Harris63.8309
Invalid/blank votes11
Total votes cast247
UbenideBernard Dowiyogo172.6527Elected
Lagumot Gagiemen Nimedere Harris111.7637Elected
Robidok Bagewa Buraro Detudamo107.6857Elected
Kenan Ranibok Adeang107.0424Elected
Derog Gioura100.0922
Victor Idarabwabwin Eoaeo84.6302
Andrew Tamakin72.7033
Mark Denis Kun56.7531
Paul Ribauw56.0412
Joseph Laben Hiram47.2596
James DeLuckner Aingimea44.9044
Johnny Aton Dongobir43.4840
Ateiwagaen Agege43.1220
Royden Hiram42.4238
Davey Hiram38.6493
Demode Idagnaderan Aliklik35.9316
Sohrab Detsiyogo35.2571
Invalid/blank votes20
Total votes cast369
YarenJoseph Detsimea Audoa88.4167Elected
Leo Depagadogi Keke77.2500Elected
Pres Nimes Ekwona Dabwadauw68.7500
Alfred Derangdedage Dick61.4167
Invalid/blank votes2
Total votes cast144
Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 14 November, 1977

Aftermath

Following the elections, the newly elected Parliament met on 15 November. Gadaroa was re-elected as Speaker and Leo Keke as Deputy Speaker, both running unopposed.[3]

Dowiyogo and DeRoburt were the two nominees for president, with Dowiyogo winning by nine votes to eight.[3] He subsequently formed a cabinet consisting of Kenas Aroi as Minister of Island Development, Industry and Civil Aviation, Kinza Clodumar as Minister of Finance, Lagumot Harris as Minister of Education and Health and Ruben Kun as Minister of Works. After the new government was formed, DeRoburt refused to follow parliamentary procedure or instructions from the Speaker.[4]

Following a heated budget debate at the start of January, during which Dowiyogo resigned and was re-elected, Clodumar was sacked as Minister of Finance and replaced by Kun. Leo Keke was appointed Minister of Works.[4] However, Dowiyogo resigned again in April 1978 after a bill was defeated in parliament. Lagumot Harris was elected president, but resigned less than a month later when another bill was rejected. Following Harris' resignation, DeRoburt was elected.[5]

His cabinet included Buraro Detudamo as Minister of Justice, James Ategan Bop as Minister of Finance, Joseph Detsimea Audoa as Minister for Education and Health and Totouwa Depaune as Minister for Works and Community Services. A cabinet reshuffle in December 1978 saw Harris replace Depaune as Minister for Works and Community Services, Kenas Aroi take over as Minister for Justice, Detudamo become Minister for Finance.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Nauru Inter-Parliamentary Union
  2. ↑ To polls again on Nauru Pacific Islands Monthly December 1977, p13
  3. 1 2 3 Nauruans vote to "legitimise a palace revolution" Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1978, p31
  4. 1 2 Upheaval in Nauru Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1978, pp5–6
  5. ↑ It's President Hammer again! Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1978, p5
  6. ↑ Major cabinet reshuffle in Nauru Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1979, p7
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