Commonwealth observers

Leader, former Nauru president, Baron Waqa, says he is gravely concerned at the daily incidents of violence and tragic loss of life that is being reported.

The Commonwealth Observers say the highly centralised structure of the Electoral Commission has undermined the effective delivery of the election.

They say the 2022 rolls were missing a large number of names, which in some cases meant up to 50 percent of eligible voters were not on the rolls.

They were critical of the late and insufficient disbursement of funds, and that unpaid bills and

The country went to the polls last week a year earlier than scheduled after the King dissolved parliament in September.

But Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva's Democratic Party won a resounding victory in the peoples' electorates, with 14 candidates - including two women - winning seats.

The observer group's chair, Margaret Wilson, said the election was conducted thoroughly by officials and the results reflected the wishes of the people.

The team includes Nauru's Electoral Commissioner Joseph Cain, Fiji's Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem and a human rights lawyer from Swaziland Lomcebo Dlamini.

RNZI reports the Commonwealth Observer Group will be in Tonga from today until 20 November.

The election is being held next Thursday.

Official observers from the Pacific Islands Forum and the US Embassy in Suva will also be watching the election.