There are no political parties in Tuvalu, but Patiale and Tauia were both members of prime minister Saufatu Sopoanga's extremely narrow parliamentary majority.

[3] Niutao is a two-seat constituency, and in the 2002 general election it had returned Samuelu Teo and Saloa Tauia with 26.5% and 25.9% of the vote respectively, ahead of two other candidates.

Sopoanga delayed recalling parliament until September,[5] then appointed opposition MP Faimalaga Luka as governor general, depriving the opposition of its crucial one-seat majority and triggering the 2003 Nukufetau by-election.

[1] The winner of the October by-election, Elisala Pita, joined the government's benches, enabling it to survive a while longer.

[7] Teii would go on to be appointed deputy prime minister under Apisai Ielemia after the 2006 general election,[8] Tuvalu Islands Headline News, November 2007 and would hold that position until he lost his seat in parliament in the 2010 general election.