Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele says the by-elections planned for three constituencies are a waste of time and money.
He says the decision by former members of Parliament, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Palusalue Fa'apo II and Vaai Papu Vaelupe, to resign makes no sense.
They stepped down after the Electoral Act was amended in response to the formation of the Tautua Samoa Party.
Parliament's standing orders require a party to have eight members in Parliament before it is recognised in the House.
Tuilaepa said even if the three are re-elected, their party, Tautua Samoa, still will not have eight members, which will make them independents.
He says this means the three MPs left Parliament as independents, and if they return, they will still be independents.
So, he says, there was no sense in the MPs resigning and the by-elections are unnecessary
The PM advised voters to consider their MPs carefully.
