Incumbent president Ieremia Tabai was term limited, making this the first presidential election in Kiribati in which he was not a candidate.

The House of Assembly chose four of its members to stand for the presidency, and collaboration between Tabai's NPP and the unaffiliated Te Waaki ae Boou faction gave the two groups full control of the ballot.

Taomati Iuta, Babera Kirata, Teburoro Tito, and Tewareka Tentoa, all of whom had previously run, were considered potential candidates for their respective factions but failed to make it onto the ballot.

Teannaki, campaigning on the continuation of Tabai's policies, benefited from the NPP's institutional strength relative to the loosely organised Te Waaki Ae Boou faction.

Teiwaki promised voters that he would shift away from Tabai's policy of frugality in favour of greater salaries and subsidies.

They criticised its running the unprofitable state airline Air Tungaru, the decrease in the nation's reserve fund after Black Tuesday, the government's refusal to use the reserve fund to start additional development projects, and its acceptance of foreign aid despite a stated policy of self-sufficiency.

[7] Before the new parliament was elected, there were six major contenders: pro-government figures Teatao Teannaki, Taomati Iuta, and Babera Kirata, opposition leader Teburoro Tito, independent faction leader Tewareka Tentoa, and unaffiliated member of parliament Roniti Teiwaki.

[8] Teannaki was the favourite to win leading up to the election, while Teiwaki and Tito were considered his greatest challengers.

[5] After working as Director of Extension Services at the University of the South Pacific, where he received the highest salary in Kiribati,[9] Teiwaki returned to parliament in a 1990 by-election.

[19] Teannaki and Teiwaki became the main candidates, with the NPP's Boanareke and Te Waaki ae Boou's Tinga filling out the remaining two spots to block access to the other factions.

These included copra prices, cost of living, development projects, wages, and the availability of government services.

An issue specific to South Tarawa was the negative effect of urbanisation on the city's native population.

This was a contrast from the elections of the 1980s, which involved labour strikes, a controversial fishing rights agreement with the Soviet Union, and questions over Tabai's eligibility for re-election.

These visits left an impact on the Protestant voter base that was sceptical about whether Catholic candidates would serve their interests.

[24] Tabai campaigned on Teannaki's behalf in South Tarawa, his popularity meaning that a significant advantage came with his endorsement.

Instead of Tabai's policies of frugality and self-sufficiency, Teiwaki advocated lowering taxes while raising salaries and subsidies to improve quality of life.

Tinga won in his home island, suggesting that the campaign did not make a focused effort to redirect his votes to Teiwaki.

After their defeat, the SDP, Reitan Kiribati, and Te Waaki ae Boou unified as the Maneaba Party, led by Teiwaki.

Tabai received a ministry position, but he left the government to serve as secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum.

[32] Teiwaki criticised Teannaki's government for what he felt was a lack of interest in providing public funding and addressing issues in urban areas.