Samoa's caretaker HRPP administration and its leader Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi have been accused of an unprecedented attack on the rule of law.
Photo: AFP
The call comes from the winner of April's election, majority party FAST, which has raised concern about what it described as "disturbing developments" in recent days.
This includes the HRPP lodging a complaint to the Judiciary Services Commission, accusing the Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese of incompetence.
It comes as the country's Court of Appeal is due to sit on Friday to consider the legality of the ad hoc swearing-in of the FAST government in late May
FAST leader Fiame Naomi Mata'afa held a press conference where she spoke about what her party equates to a brazen attack on the judiciary.
Fiame denied HRPP claims that she and fellow FAST members have been meeting with the Chief Justice and other judges.
"I can say unequivocally that contrary to HRPP's lies and mistruths, neither I nor La'auli nor any member of FAST has met with the Chief Justice or any other Supreme Court Judge, in secret or in private."
The Judiciary Services Commission sat today to consider the HRPP's complaint, with a decision yet to be reached on the accusation of incompetence.
"It is concerning that the caretaker is now seeking to suspend or remove the Chief Justice while a sitting of the Court of Appeal is pending this Friday on highly important matters," Fiame said.
It's now over three months since Samoa's national election, and Tuila'epa shows little sign that he is willing to relinquish power despite the fact that his party has lost its majority and has only 19 seats to FAST's 26.
"We have seen the unconscionable and dirty tactics played out by a man who refuses to accept defeat and now in the last desperate attempt to retain power, we have their attack on the Rule of Law," said Fiame.