1976 Nauruan parliamentary election

none August 2026 August 2026 Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 18 December 1976. Following the election, Bernard Dowiyogo was elected President by Members of the Parliament.Nauru Inter-Parliamentary Union 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. Campaign A total of 43 candidates contested the elections, two of whom were elected unopposed.No fun and games when party politics creep up on Nauru Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1977, pp8–10 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. Results 15 of the 18 incumbents were re-elected. Lagumot Harris, MP for Ubenide, was surprisingly defeated. Independents 1155 18 193 IPU By constituency ConstituencyCandidateVotesNotesAiwo Edwin Tsitsi 94.53 Elected Kinza Clodumar 93.33 Elected Reginald Roderick Akiri 67.72 August Detonga Deiye 64.53 Clifford Andrew Simon 58.92 Invalid/blank votes1Total votes cast168Anabar David Peter Gadaraoa 70.35 Elected Obeira Menke 59.10 Elected Agoko Doguape 57.87 Felix Kun 55.60 Jerry Waidabu 35.65 Invalid/blank votes7Total votes cast129Anetan Roy Degoregore — Elected unopposedGillett S. 6 December 1976 Candidates nominated http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/ec3224424a3b61fa9801a635823f8776.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20191117160001/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/ec3224424a3b61fa9801a635823f8776.pdf 17 November 2019 Republic of Nauru Government Gazette 61 5 Lawrence Stephen — Elected unopposedBoe Hammer DeRoburt 112.00 Elected Kenas Aroi 89.67 Elected Gouradage Star 62.33 Invalid/blank votes2Total votes cast146Buada Austin Bernicke 81.25 Elected Ruben Kun 67.35 Elected Totouwa Depaune 62.47 Alec Hindmarsh Stephen 55.48 Rennie Harris 48.68 Vinson Detenamo 47.37 Invalid/blank votes0Total votes cast148Meneng James Ategan Bop 120.05 Elected Robert Eoe 117.14 Elected Frank Canon 96.00 Christmas Bam 80.95 Rirainang Allan Thoma 79.22 David Audi Dabwido 74.42 Alec Dogaben Harris 67.46 Invalid/blank votes4Total votes cast249Ubenide Buraro Detudamo 147.62 Elected Bernard Dowiyogo 125.17 Elected Victor Eoaeo 119.05 Elected Derog Gioura 118.73 Elected Kennan Adeang 103.69 Lagumot Harris 103.55 James DeLuckner 71.68 Paul Lawrence Ribauw 71.34 Mark Dennis Kun 63.98 Joseph Laben Hiram 60.06 Invalid/blank votes9Total votes cast345Yaren Joseph Detsimea Audoa 116.63 Elected Leo Keke 72.63 Elected Alfred Derangdedage Dick 65.33 Pres Nimes Ekwona 63.12 John Binono Willis 45.33 Invalid/blank votes4Total votes cast163Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette 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. 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. Dowiyogo appointed a new cabinet, including Aroi, who subsequently resigned as Speaker. Samuel Tsitsi was elected in his place. PositionMinisterPresidentMinister for External AffairsMinister of JusticeMinister for the Public ServiceBernard DowiyogoMinister for FinanceMinister Assisting the PresidentKinza ClodumarMinister for HealthMinister for EducationLawrence StephenMinister for Islands Development and IndustryMinister for Civil AviationKenas AroiMinister 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. The debate was halted when Tsisti resigned as Speaker, also giving up his seat in Parliament. The following week David Gadaraoa was elected as the third Speaker of the parliamentary term. MP Austin Bernicke died in January 1977.March 1977 Austin Bernicke Dead https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334874869/view?partId=nla.obj-334916223#page/n16/mode/1up Pacific Islands Monthly 48 17 In the subsequent by-election in Buada on 5 March 1977, Totouwa Depaune was elected to parliament, defeating Alec Hindmarsh Stephen.Gillett S. 16 March 1977 By election - Constituency of Buada http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/10922caa89baef75929a45b30a61ac2c.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20191117030354/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/10922caa89baef75929a45b30a61ac2c.pdf 17 November 2019 Republic of Nauru Government Gazette 24 2 The Supreme Court later overturned the election of Derog Gioura. Kennan Adeang was declared elected in his place. 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).A bouncer! Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1977, p20 References Nauru Parliament Category:Elections in Nauru Category:Non-partisan elections Nauru Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results