The agreement provided for the replacement of the Advisory Council with an assembly with increased powers and elected by universal suffrage.

Fearing a victory for the New Hebrides National Party and reluctant to sanction independence due to fears that it may encourage similar sentiments in French Polynesia and New Caledonia, the French element of the joint administration gave support to the European-backed Union of the Communities of the New Hebrides (UCNH).

[5] Seven planeloads of New Hebrideans were also flown from New Caledonia to vote, with electoral regulations changed on election day to allow the practice.

[5] Following the victory of the New Hebrides National Party, the authorities sought to try to avoid pro-independence factions holding a majority in the Assembly.

[10] In May 1976, six months after voting had taken place, the election of four members in Espiritu Santo – Mary Gilu, Titus Path and Thomas Reuben of the National Party and Michel Thevenin of MANH – was annulled.

By-elections for the seats were held between 25 and 27 October; Gilu, Path and Reuben were re-elected, while de Montgremier was defeated by George Cronsteadt of MANH–Nagramiel.