The Samoan Democratic United Party (SDUP) is the main opposition party of Samoa. The SDUP was formed in 2003 from the Samoan National Development Party (SNDP) and the Samoan United Independent Party (SUIP). During the most recent elections on 2 April 2006, they won 10 of the 49 seats, but one member lost his seat after an election petition ruling in August 2006.
At the end of August 2006, the party announced it had a new leader, Asiata Sale’imoa Va’ai. The long-standing former leader, Le Mamea Ropati, had disputed the change of leadership. Following the departure of Ropati and his deputy Sililoto Tolo Tuaifaiva, the party dropped to seven MPs, and ceased to be recognised in the House. As a result, all its members are considered to be independents.
In September 2010, the leaders of the SDUP, including Le Mamea Ropati, Tuia Paepae Letoa and Mulipola Oliva asked to run as HRPP candidates.