Melanesian Alliance Party

The party was co-founded by John Momis and John Kaputin in the late 1970s.^[2]

The party formed an association with the National Alliance Party prior to the 1997 general election, but relaunched as a separate party in February 2002 with three founding National Alliance members: Bernard Narokobi, Sir Moi Avei, and Dame Carol Kidu.^[3][4][5] Narokobi resumed the leadership, but lost his seat at the 2002 election.^[6]

It returned three MPs at the 2002 election: Sir Moi Avei (Kairuku-Hiri Open), Anderson Vele (Rigo Open) and Dame Carol Kidu (Moresby South Open).^[7] Avei assumed the leadership; however, he was replaced by Kidu in May 2007 after a leadership tribunal recommended Avei's dismissal from office.^[8] She was the sole MP returned for the party at the 2007 election.^[9] She retired at the 2012 election.^[10][11]

Kidu was succeeded as leader by Sam Akoitai for the 2012 election campaign; however, the party won no seats at the election. A subsequent offer from party secretary Nick Klapat for an independent MP to take the party leadership was not taken up.^[12][13]

The party is registered to contest the 2017 election.^[14] Wosera-Gaui MP Joseph Yopyyopy, formerly of the United Resources Party, was named party leader for the election.^[1]