Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 18 December 1976. Following the election, Bernard Dowiyogo was elected President by Members of the Parliament.[1]
In July 1976 Parliament had forced President Hammer DeRoburt – head of state since independence in 1968 – to resign after refusing to pass financial bills. However, within a few hours DeRoburt was re-elected president unopposed.
A total of 43 candidates contested the elections, two of whom were elected unopposed.[2]
An informal Nauru Party was formed prior to the election, the first party on the island. Its members were younger MPs who had been concerned about the country's economic policy and saw DeRoburt's government of making decisions without proper discussion.[2]
15 of the 18 incumbents were re-elected. Lagumot Harris, MP for Ubenide, was surprisingly defeated.[2]
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiwo | Samuel Edwin Tsitsi | 94.53 | Elected |
| Kinza Clodumar | 93.33 | Elected | |
| Reginald Roderick Akiri | 67.72 | ||
| August Detonga Deiye | 64.53 | ||
| Clifford Andrew Simon | 58.92 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 1 | ||
| Total votes cast | 168 | ||
| Anabar | David Peter Gadaraoa | 70.35 | Elected |
| Obeira Menke | 59.10 | Elected | |
| Agoko Doguape | 57.87 | ||
| Felix Kun | 55.60 | ||
| Jerry Waidabu | 35.65 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 7 | ||
| Total votes cast | 129 | ||
| Anetan | Roy Degoregore | 0 | Elected |
| Lawrence Stephen | 0 | Elected | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 0 | ||
| Total votes cast | 0 | ||
| Boe | Hammer DeRoburt | 112.00 | Elected |
| Kenas Aroi | 89.67 | Elected | |
| Gouradage Star | 62.33 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 2 | ||
| Total votes cast | 146 | ||
| Buada | Austin Bernicke | 81.25 | Elected |
| Ruben James Kun | 67.35 | Elected | |
| 62.47 | |||
| Alec Hindmarsh Stephen | 55.48 | ||
| Rennie Harris | 48.68 | ||
| 47.37 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 0 | ||
| Total votes cast | 148 | ||
| Meneng | James Ategan Bop | 120.05 | Elected |
| Bobby Ingitebo Eoe | 117.14 | Elected | |
| Frank Canon | 96.00 | ||
| Christmas Bam | 80.95 | ||
| Rirainang Allan Thoma | 79.22 | ||
| David Audi Dabwido | 74.42 | ||
| Alec Dogaben Harris | 67.46 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 4 | ||
| Total votes cast | 249 | ||
| Ubenide | Buraro Detudamo | 147.62 | Elected |
| Bernard Dowiyogo | 125.17 | Elected | |
| Victor Eoaeo | 119.05 | Elected | |
| Derog Gioura | 118.73 | Elected | |
| 103.69 | |||
| 103.55 | |||
| James DeLuckner | 71.68 | ||
| Paul Lawrence Ribauw | 71.34 | ||
| Mark Dennis Kun | 63.98 | ||
| 60.06 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 9 | ||
| Total votes cast | 345 | ||
| Yaren | Joseph Detsimea Audoa | 116.63 | Elected |
| Leo Depagadogi Keke | 72.63 | Elected | |
| Alfred Derangdedage Dick | 65.33 | ||
| 63.12 | |||
| John Binono Willis | 45.33 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 4 | ||
| Total votes cast | 163 | ||
| align=left colspan=4 | Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 20 December 1976 |
The newly elected Parliament met on 21 December and re-elected Kenas Aroi was re-elected as Speaker. After DeRoburt refused to listen to suggestions that he appoint some new ministers to his cabinet, he lost the vote for president to Bernard Dowiyogo by nine votes to seven.[2] Following the election, Nauru Party MPs met with DeRoburt and promised that Dowiyogo would resign and allow him to run unopposed if he reconsidered making changes to his cabinet. However, he refused, taking the view that the president should be free to choose their own cabinet.[2]
Dowiyogo appointed a new cabinet, including Aroi, who subsequently resigned as Speaker. Samuel Tsitsi was elected in his place.[2]
| Position | Minister | |
|---|---|---|
| President Minister for External Affairs Minister of Justice Minister for the Public Service | Bernard Dowiyogo | |
| Minister for Finance Minister Assisting the President | Kinza Clodumar | |
| Minister for Health Minister for Education | Lawrence Stephen | |
| Minister for Islands Development and Industry Minister for Civil Aviation | Kenas Aroi | |
| Minister for Works and Community Services | Ruben Kun |
On 24 December, DeRoburt called a special session of parliament to propose a motion that the new government had been formed outside the constitution, which did not provide for party politics.[2] The debate was halted when Tsisti resigned as Speaker, also giving up his seat in Parliament. The following week David Gadaroa was elected as the third Speaker of the parliamentary term.[2]
The Supreme Court later overturned the election of Derog Gioura. Kennan Adeang was declared elected in his place. In 1977 MP René Harris – who had replaced Tsitsi after his resignation – was removed from Parliament after being convicted of assault. In the subsequent by-election, he was re-elected with 95 votes, defeating Reginald Akiri (41 votes), John Bill (12) and August Deiye (10).[3]