In the 1966 elections, the seat had been won by Alliance Party candidate Alipate Sikivou with 4,427 of the 7,474 valid votes (59.2%). Jone Cure Mataitini, an independent, finished second with 1,779 votes, whilst another independent candidate, Noa Niubalavu Nawalowalo, received 1,268 votes to finish third.[1]
Three candidates contested the elections; Uraia Koroi, a programme organiser for Fijian language broadcasts at Radio Fiji, was the Alliance Party candidate. Ratu Mosese Varesekete Tuisawau, a brother in-law of Prime Minister Kamisese Mara, contested the elections on behalf of the National Federation Party, the first Fijian to contest the election on behalf of the party. The third candidate was Taniela Vitata, leader of the Dockworker and Seamen's Union, who ran on behalf of the National Liberal Party.[2]
Unusually, the chief-oriented Alliance Party had a commoner as its candidate, whilst the Indo-Fijian dominated National Federation Party had a Fijian chief.[3] Tuisawau received the backing of a leading Rewan chief, Senator Jone Mataitini,[2] but was strongly opposed by the Fiji Times.[3] During the campaign Tuisawau was involved in a fight with the editor of the Na Tovata newspaper of the Alliance Party.[3] He received strong support in Rewa, but very little in Suva.[3]
