General elections were held in the Solomon Islands on 22 June 1976.[1] Although contested by three political parties (the People's Progressive Party, the National Democratic Party and the Melanesian Action Party), the Independent Group emerged as the largest group in the Legislative Assembly, and elected Peter Kenilorea Chief Minister.[2]
A total of 177 candidates contested the elections. Only fourteen incumbent MLAs were re-elected, with two ministers – David Thuguvoda and Ashley Wickham – losing their seats. Kenilorea was elected unopposed in East ꞌAreꞌare.[3]
The Independent Group won 15 of the 38 seats,[2] with the National Democratic Party winning eight.[4]
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left rowspan=4 | Central Guadalcanal | Paul Joseph Tovua | 408 | 43.00 | Elected |
| Moses Albert Rere | 228 | 24.00 | |||
| Mark Manapasege | 190 | 20.00 | |||
| Belden Aghi | 123 | 13.00 | |||
| align=left rowspan=7 | Central Malaita | Collin Gauwane | 376 | 31.90 | Re-elected |
| Abraham Baeanisia | 221 | 18.70 | |||
| George Maelalo | 193 | 16.40 | |||
| Alfred Maetia | 188 | 15.90 | |||
| Francis Joseph Saemala | 108 | 9.20 | |||
| Francis Walelia | 59 | 5.00 | |||
| Martin Anifasipetele | 34 | 2.90 | |||
| East ꞌAreꞌare | Peter Kenilorea | — | — | Elected unopposed | |
| align=left rowspan=6 | East Guadalcanal | David Valusa | 438 | 30.90 | Elected |
| Sukuatu Malakia | 362 | 25.60 | |||
| Joel Kikolo | 245 | 17.30 | |||
| Sam Iko | 161 | 11.40 | |||
| Donasiano Pororasu | 132 | 9.30 | |||
| Salathiel Lence Roger | 78 | 5.50 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | East Honiara | Batholomew Ulufa'alu | 613 | 61.20 | Elected |
| Peter J. Salaka | 331 | 33.00 | |||
| Paul Buarua | 58 | 5.80 | |||
| align=left rowspan=7 | East Isabel | Francis Reginald Kikolo | 444 | 26.90 | Re-elected |
| Douglas Feitei | 327 | 19.80 | |||
| Daniel Denys Maile | 262 | 15.90 | |||
| Moses Mahomed Razak | 249 | 15.10 | |||
| Cullwick Maneguasa Vahia | 145 | 8.80 | |||
| Benjamin Tivo Zeva | 120 | 7.30 | |||
| Alfred Charles Bugoro | 105 | 6.40 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | East Kwaio | Jonathan Fifii | 849 | 75.30 | Re-elected |
| John Fisango | 278 | 24.70 | |||
| align=left rowspan=6 | East Makira | Benedict Kinika | 779 | 38.60 | Re-elected |
| Geoffrey Kuper | 498 | 24.70 | |||
| Macpherson Mwara | 444 | 22.00 | |||
| Elijah Koke | 121 | 6.00 | |||
| Daniel Kuata | 115 | 5.70 | |||
| Beato Tora | 63 | 3.10 | |||
| align=left rowspan=10 | East Malaita | Faneta Sira | 238 | 18.90 | Elected |
| John Maetia Kaliuae | 201 | 15.90 | |||
| Leslie Fugui | 168 | 13.30 | Unseated | ||
| Ben Gale | 157 | 12.50 | |||
| Appallosi Siosi | 127 | 10.10 | |||
| Jack Inifiri | 107 | 8.50 | |||
| Saeti Saefafia | 85 | 6.70 | |||
| Charles Luiramo | 67 | 5.30 | |||
| Billy Fa'arobo | 62 | 4.90 | |||
| Barnabas Kona | 49 | 3.90 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | First Eastern Outer Islands | Moffat Bonunga | 827 | 63.80 | Re-elected |
| Matthew Leuba | 200 | 15.40 | |||
| Ambrose Langosa | 140 | 10.80 | |||
| Santas Paikai | 130 | 10.00 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Gizo/Kolombangara | Lawry Eddie Wickham | 410 | 46.90 | Elected |
| George Ngumi | 321 | 36.70 | Unseated | ||
| Aquila Talasasa | 108 | 12.30 | |||
| Anthony Ramoi | 36 | 4.10 | |||
| align=left rowspan=13 | Lau/Mbaelelea | Mariano Kelesi | 315 | 21.00 | Elected |
| George Suri Kwanae | 195 | 13.00 | |||
| Ratu Wayne Sade Afu | 164 | 10.90 | |||
| Jeriel Ofea Ausuta | 128 | 8.50 | |||
| Mahlon Kwalofau | 125 | 8.30 | |||
| Philip Solodia | 115 | 7.70 | Unseated | ||
| Samuel Ragosomani | 110 | 7.30 | |||
| Colin Bentley | 80 | 5.30 | |||
| Hadley Toata | 77 | 5.10 | |||
| Stephen Pita | 67 | 4.50 | |||
| John Ratu Daofainia | 56 | 3.70 | |||
| Baddeley Koutu | 39 | 2.60 | |||
| Festus Kenileana | 30 | 2.00 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Malaita Outer Islands | Johnson Kengalu | 183 | 45.80 | Elected |
| Abraham Kapei | 170 | 42.50 | |||
| Johnson Siota | 47 | 11.80 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Marovo | Pulepada Ghemu | 531 | 67.60 | Re-elected |
| Harold Penny | 254 | 32.40 | |||
| align=left rowspan=7 | Nggela | Ben Tumulima | 553 | 31.40 | Elected |
| James Loti | 381 | 21.60 | |||
| Dudley Gorosi | 318 | 18.10 | |||
| Richard Harper | 204 | 11.60 | |||
| Robert Pule | 160 | 9.10 | |||
| John Plant Salini | 79 | 4.50 | |||
| Matthew Kuri | 66 | 3.70 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | North Choiseul | Gideon Zoleveke | 472 | 58.30 | Re-elected |
| Luke Pitakoe | 337 | 41.70 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | North East Guadalcanal (old) | Waeta Ben | 782 | 83.70 | Re-elected |
| David Kauli | 152 | 16.30 | |||
| align=left rowspan=6 | North Guadalcanal | Philip Kapini | 412 | 30.60 | Elected |
| Alfred Maeke | 368 | 27.30 | |||
| David Thuguvoda | 247 | 18.30 | Unseated | ||
| Alfred Thugea | 123 | 9.10 | |||
| Stephen Matagu | 122 | 9.10 | |||
| Michael Mose | 76 | 5.60 | |||
| align=left rowspan=8 | North West Malaita | Joseph Taega | 213 | 24.50 | Elected |
| Moffat Maena | 163 | 18.80 | |||
| Ishmael Bobby | 132 | 15.20 | |||
| Bartholomew Riolo Okesi | 121 | 13.90 | |||
| Mahion Dofai | 75 | 8.60 | |||
| Leonard Maenuna | 71 | 8.20 | |||
| Dominic Surioa | 56 | 6.40 | |||
| Augustine Maelfodola | 38 | 4.40 | |||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Ranongga/Simbo | Francis Billy Hilly | 400 | 41.40 | Elected |
| Nelson Mamipitu | 195 | 20.20 | |||
| Patterson Runikera | 148 | 15.30 | |||
| Bruce Ragoso | 121 | 12.50 | |||
| Josiah Kunduru | 103 | 10.70 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Rennell/Bellona | John Tepaika | 563 | 77.20 | Elected |
| John Mike Sau | 119 | 16.30 | |||
| Leonard Kaitu'u | 47 | 6.40 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Roviana and North New Georgia | Geoffrey Opokana Beti | 754 | 73.80 | Elected |
| Alphonse Daga | 160 | 15.70 | |||
| Simeon Paza Makini | 107 | 10.50 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Russells/Savo | Peter Manetiva | 559 | 47.50 | Elected |
| John Baptist Tura | 331 | 28.10 | |||
| Mark Vaka | 287 | 24.40 | |||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Second Eastern Outer Islands | John Melanoli | 397 | 29.10 | Elected |
| James Santa | 253 | 18.60 | |||
| John Mealue | 238 | 17.50 | |||
| Father Brock | 214 | 15.70 | |||
| Ataban M Tropa | 211 | 15.50 | |||
| David Dawea Taukalo | 49 | 3.60 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Shortland | Remesio Eresi | 338 | 53.70 | Elected |
| Edward Kingmele | 167 | 26.50 | |||
| Lester Sogah Bule | 125 | 19.80 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Small Malaita | Emilio Li'I Ouou | 995 | 54.00 | Re-elected |
| Anthony Saru | 419 | 22.70 | |||
| David Lilimae | 221 | 12.00 | |||
| Peter Mamani | 207 | 11.20 | |||
| align=left rowspan=5 | South Choiseul | Jason Dorovolomo | 457 | 38.00 | Elected |
| Joini Tutua | 329 | 27.30 | |||
| Lemech Dorovoqa | 222 | 18.50 | |||
| Binet Gadebeta | 129 | 10.70 | |||
| Stainer Pitaduna | 66 | 5.50 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | South Guadalcanal | Sethuel Kelly | 682 | 40.60 | Elected |
| Stephen Cheka | 518 | 30.90 | Unseated | ||
| George Wilson Mangale | 279 | 16.60 | |||
| Wilson Low | 199 | 11.90 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Ulawa/Ugi | Daniel Ho'ota | 375 | 48.60 | Elected |
| Andrew Mamau | 183 | 23.70 | |||
| Thomas Titiulu | 157 | 20.40 | |||
| Michael Umaleo | 56 | 7.30 | |||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Vella Lavella | Andrew Kukuti | 440 | 34.90 | Re-elected |
| Gilbert Pana | 349 | 27.70 | |||
| Tommy Rausu | 215 | 17.00 | |||
| George Talasasa | 137 | 10.90 | |||
| Howard Viuru | 66 | 5.20 | |||
| Rodi Mesipitu | 55 | 4.40 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Vona Vona/Rendova/Tetepari | Francis Milton Angarau | 346 | 34.10 | Elected |
| Samuel Kuku | 335 | 33.00 | |||
| Darcy Everett Lilo | 200 | 19.70 | |||
| Milton Sale | 134 | 13.20 | |||
| align=left rowspan=3 | West ꞌAreꞌare | David Kausimae | 554 | 52.30 | Re-elected |
| Michael Oritaimae | 386 | 36.40 | |||
| Romano Toreitoro | 119 | 11.20 | |||
| align=left rowspan=6 | West Guadalcanal | Matthew Belamataga | 556 | 31.70 | Re-elected |
| Leonard Ashley Sydenham | 306 | 17.40 | |||
| Bartholomew Buchanan | 305 | 17.40 | |||
| Orlie Torling | 283 | 16.10 | |||
| Savino Kokopu | 153 | 8.70 | |||
| Francis George Labu | 152 | 8.70 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | West Honiara | Nathan Wate | 299 | 30.80 | Elected |
| Ronald Alexander Lawson | 275 | 28.30 | |||
| Warren Paia | 243 | 25.00 | |||
| Ashley Wickham | 155 | 15.90 | Unseated | ||
| align=left rowspan=2 | West Isabel | Willie Betu | 1,005 | 58.10 | Re-elected |
| Dennis Carlos Lulei | 725 | 41.90 | |||
| align=left rowspan=4 | West Kwaio | Henry Tom | 296 | 39.90 | Elected |
| George Luialamo | 218 | 29.40 | |||
| Paul Andrew Foasi | 145 | 19.50 | |||
| John Ale | 83 | 11.20 | |||
| align=left rowspan=9 | West Kwara'ae | John Richardson Garea | 604 | 44.60 | Elected |
| Alan Taki | 280 | 20.70 | |||
| Bill Dolarii | 107 | 7.90 | |||
| Clement Kiriau Ofai | 91 | 6.70 | |||
| Fred Maedola | 87 | 6.40 | |||
| Andrew Adifaka | 62 | 4.60 | |||
| Rickimae Alufafia | 56 | 4.10 | |||
| Edward John Filiau | 36 | 2.70 | |||
| Timeous Teioli | 31 | 2.30 | |||
| align=left rowspan=2 | West Makira | Solomon S. Mamaloni | 1,092 | 80.90 | Re-elected |
| John Marahora | 258 | 19.10 | |||
| Source: [5] | |||||
Following the elections, the Legislative Assembly elected the Chief Minister in mid-July,[6] with Kenilorea defeating incumbent Chief Minister Solomon Mamaloni by 21 votes to 16 in the seventh round of voting.[7] Kenilorea subsequently formed a new Council of Ministers.[8]
| Position | Minister | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Minister | Peter Kenilorea | |
| Minister for Agriculture and Land | Sethuel Kelly | |
| Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs | Mariano Kelesi | |
| Minister for Finance | Benedict Kinika | |
| Minister for Foreign Trade, Industry and Labour | Pulepada Ghemu | |
| Minister for Health and Welfare | Daniel Ho'ota | |
| Minister of Home Affairs | Francis Billy Hilly | |
| Minister for Works and Public Utilities | John Tepaika |