The final election petition of the January 16, 2025 Snap-Election has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The petition by former Member of Parliament, Nakou Natuman, accused the Minister of Education, Simil Johnson, of election interference in the Tanna Constituency.

According to the judgment, “Mr Natuman’s sworn statement consists entirely of inadmissible hearsay, and he did not file any other statements in support of the Petition within the prescribed time limit”.

Therefore, Justice Maree Mackenzie ruled that “there is no evidence to substantiate the grounds set out in the Petition.

“Mr Natuman cannot rectify the evidential position by filing further sworn statements, or by seeking a summons for each proposed witness, for the reasons already given.”

Thus, Justice concluded that the Petition is invalid or incompetent and must be struck out. 

The Tanna Constituency petition is the last of the 2025 snap election petitions to be dismissed.