[1] The election occurred following constitutional amendments that extended the parliamentary term from three to five years and increased parliament's seat count from 47 to 49.
The HRPP's popularity suffered a setback due to Chief Auditor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong's 1994 report, which brought to light government corruption.
The Supreme Court later voided the election of five successful candidates, including four cabinet ministers and Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva, after finding them guilty of bribery charges brought about by electoral petitions.
During the previous election held in 1991, the ruling HRPP, led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, won re-election with a simple majority of 27 seats in parliament.
[2][1] The election was the first to occur since the passage of universal suffrage in a 1990 constitutional referendum, granting all citizens aged 21 and older the right to vote.
[3] SNDP Leader Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi lost his seat;[4] however, after filing a successful electoral petition, he returned to Parliament after winning a subsequent by-election.
[8] The same year, Chief Auditor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong released an annual report to parliament that exposed widespread government corruption, including mismanagement of public funds.
[18] As prescribed by an amendment to the Electoral Act in 1990, voters required identification cards issued by the government to cast their ballots.
[22][14] Former Health Minister To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva formed the Western Samoa Labour Party in 1993, which aimed to provide a more "effective" opposition, in contrast to the SNDP.
[14] Despite concerns about Prime Minister Alesana's health problems, especially as he only returned to Western Samoa just 12 days before the election after receiving treatment in New Zealand,[7][25] he remained party leader.
[26] The Labour Party sought to deliver a more "effective" alternative to the SNDP and claimed their "mute" strategies had resulted in the HRPP attaining unchecked power.
[27] Anti-corruption and fulfilling the basic needs of citizens were central aspects of Labour's campaign,[7] with Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva describing himself as "Moses leading his people to the promised land" and as a "future prime minister".
On the evening of the election, Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana declared victory, claiming that some independent candidates had joined the HRPP.
[1] The only other party to win a seat was Labour, whose leader and sole candidate narrowly defeated Parliamentary Speaker Afamasaga Fatu Vaili.
Of the 17 petitions, 16 alleged corrupt practices on the part of the winning contestant, including bribery and treatment, while one disputed the validity of the results in a constituency.
[28] Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva resigned his seat after his opponent, former Speaker Vaili, filed a petition alleging bribery.
[35][36] Overall, once the Supreme Court had processed all electoral petitions and all subsequent by-elections had occurred, the HRPP's seat count had increased to 35, the SNDP's remaining at 11, there were three independents and Labour was left with no parliamentary representation.