Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is expected to maintain his seat in Saturday's elections, clearing the path for him to attempt to build a cabinet.

A long-time ally of China, he has promised to strengthen ties with Beijing even further if he returns to office.

Since assuming office, Sogavare has terminated relations with Taiwan and officially established ties with Beijing. In the previous year, he had entered into a security agreement with China, raising concerns from the United States and Australia about Beijing gaining influence in its own backyard.

According to preliminary results from the country's state broadcaster, Sogavare defeated four competitors to keep a parliamentary seat he has held for more than 20 years.

According to the electoral commission, Regional Governor Martin Fini previously lost his re-election campaign. 

Malaita province for years refused to accept Chinese help or investment, breaking the trend as Beijing's influence spread throughout the archipelago.

However, this changed when Fini became the province's premier in 2023, succeeding Daniel Suidani.

He just signed a memorandum of collaboration with China's Jiangsu province

Beijing's embassy in the Solomon Islands commended Fini's "firm support" for China, offering to improve his province's roads and internet access.

Suidani was one of the few provincial leaders who refused Chinese help, citing he would attempt to recapture the premiership of Malaita, the most populous of the Solomon Islands' nine provinces, and claimed that Fini's demise was due to his desire for deeper connections with China.

He told AFP that Chinese influence was "very concerning", stating that "the people here in Malaita don't agree with the ruling government for the past 12 months," adding that "all of these things contributed, including the signing of the provincial relationship with Jiangsu."

Suidani lost as Malaita's prime minister after losing a no-confidence motion in early 2023.