The political group known as PTOA (People’s Democratic Party) continues to be deepened in their split and fragmentation as one of the two major factions announced recently their candidates in all 17 Constituencies for the November General Election.
This means that the other PTOA group will announce separately their own 17 candidates, vying for votes from the same supporters.
PTOA is a political party grouping founded by the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva who held strong leadership ties to all his supporters throughout the kingdom. But since his death in 2019, the group has experienced all kinds of problems mostly to do with who was supposed to be in leadership.
The first major split was when the current Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa crossed the floor from the PTOA group to form his own political party – PAK (People’s Party) and in collaboration with some noble representatives and independents, got elected as Prime Minister.
PTOA did not have the majority on their own and thus lost the government to Tu’ionetoa and his new political grouping.
In trying to regroup, it became obvious that PTOA did not have a succession plan under ‘Akilisi, whose absence created a huge leadership gap as well as splinters among the followers, that later became fragmented into bitter rivalries.
After weeks of uncertainties and lack of clear leadership, PTOA reluctantly settled under the leadership of Semisi Sika, who was Deputy PM under ‘Akilisi anyway, and is the MP for Tongatapu 2. Sika brought together his fellow PTOA Parliamentarians and they became the “Core Team” acting as the ruling board for the party.
But things got more complicated as MP Siaosi Pohiva split for the “Core Team” group and together with Vava’u 14 MP, Dr. Saia Piukala, became the two PTOA MPs who were no longer part of the “Core Team.”
The rest is history as Siaosi claims leadership over the “vision” of his father, and formed a separate political group, now known as the PTOA Komiti, declaring themselves as the true followers of the vision and work of ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
Three candidates denied their affiliation with PTOA
When the PTOA Komiti announced their candidates, three of those named went public immediately to deny their affiliation with PTOA.
They are Poasi Tei, MP for Tongatapu 6, and Minister of MEIDECC; Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi, candidate for ‘Eua 11; and also Paea Filimoehala, candidate for Niua 17.
This was a major blow to the PTOA Komiti group, for it showed the selections of some of their candidates were done without their knowledge or consent. It was more than an oversight. It shows the desperate state they are in, trying to sign on anyone who has the possibility of winning, so they could claim their allegiance in Parliament.
It also raises questions on the reliability of the group and the motives that drive their leadership. Obviously supporters who may have been sitting on the fence jumped over to support the other PTOA group under Semisi Sika’s leadership.
With the two factions of PTOA fighting among themselves, and the Prime Minister’s PAK Party in trouble since the jailing of their deputy chair, and their Minister, there is an expectation for a host of independent candidates to be standing in the next election.
The general election will be held on November 18th.
