Kiribati held its first presidential election as an independent nation on 4 May 1982. The incumbent president, Ieremia Tabai, who had been elected while the nation was under colonial rule, won re-election with 48.7% of the vote. He placed ahead of his vice-president Teatao Teannaki, opposition leader Naboua Ratieta, and pro-labour member of parliament Etera Teangana. The candidates were chosen by the parliament of Kiribati; an alliance of pro-government and independent members of parliament nominated Tabai and Teannaki, while an alliance of opposition and pro-labour members of parliament nominated Ratieta and Teangana. The election had a turnout of 82.5 percent of registered voters.
Among the issues of the election were a major strike that had taken place in 1980 and a religious divide between Protestants and Catholics, with allegations that Tabai's government was favouring Protestants. Although this was the second time Tabai was elected, it initiated his first full term in independent Kiribati. Tabai's victory only lasted until the end of 1982, when a motion of no confidence dissolved his government and triggered new elections.
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