[3] In the August 2010 general election, the seat was won by Andrew Hanaria, of the People's Congress Party; he entered Parliament for the first time.
[3] Sir Peter Kenilorea, who led the country during its period of transition to independence from the United Kingdom in 1978, announced his intention to stand in the by-election.
This was also affecting the scheduled by-election in North Malaita, in which MP Jimmy Lusibaea had lost his seat upon conviction for assault and grievous bodily harm, for events committed a decade earlier, but was seeking to stand for reelection.
Maelanga stated that legal advice was being sought from the Attorney General, who was abroad, before a date for the two by-elections could be set.
[7] Andrew Manepora'a, an economist and head of the anti-money laundering unit of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, won the seat by a comfortable margin; Sir Peter Kenilorea came third.