Mr Pohiva's Democratic Party won 14 out of the 17 People's seats.
Publisher and commentator Kalafi Moala said it was a remarkable and unexpected feat.
Mr Moala said Mr Pohiva has had his critics lately, but his brand has remained strong.
"He has declined in terms of numbers but he's still the most dominant politician that's influenced politics in Tonga," he said
Auckland University of Technology's Teena Brown Pulu, is a senior lecturer and Tongan politics researcher.
Dr Pulu said the Democratic Party continued to be a force.
"They campaign as a party. When they come out to campaign in the villages, 'Akilisi is there with his whole 17-strong team and they are powerful and they can draw in a crowd," she said.
"If you are an independent, you really have to canvas at a community level and work differently. You can't be campaigning in tit-for-tat with 'Akilisi when he is 17 people strong and has 30 years in parliament."
'Akilisi Pohiva was first elected into parliament in 1987 and was the first commoner to be elected Prime Minister.
Dr Pulu agreed with Kalafi Moala that Mr Pohiva remained the most influential and possibly strongest figure in Tongan politics.
Mr Moala found it interesting that the public had not listened to the accusations surrounding the conduct of Mr Pohiva and the last government.
There were claims the government had acted unconstitutionally by signing international agreements without the King's approval and the dissolution was the end of a term full of controversy, including the late withdrawal from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, the development of a heritage site and an ongoing spat with the state broadcaster.
Mr Moala said, in the end, it didn't matter.
"Even the fact that there have been the proclamations everywhere during this campaign that this is the most scandalous government that's ever been in Tonga, obviously nobody listened to that. It's quite interesting. It was like teflon, it just comes out and it hits people and it falls off," he said.
The top-polling candidate and Democratic Party member, Pohiva Tu'ionetoa, said the result showed the people did not agree with the dissolution of Parliament.
"Although the House has been dissolved, they do make a strong statement, that the people want the democracy to progress. The people state that the dissolution of Parliament was not the proper way to progress in democracy in this country," Mr Tu'ionetoa said.
'Akilisi Pohiva and his party made no secret that they wanted changes, continuing to push for the government rather than the King to appoint positions like the Police Commissioner, the Attorney-General and the Anti-Corruption Commissioner.
They've also called for cabinet ministers to be included on the King's advisory Privy Council.
Pohiva Tu'ionetoa said there would be no change in approach from the Democratic party.
"I think what we have been focussing on so far, and then the dissolution seem to have stopped what we have been doing and I think at this stage we should be progressing on the same way," he said.
Teena Brown Pulu said there was no onus on Mr Tu'ionetoa and his colleagues to change tack.
"The Democrats have no reason to back-down because this election was all about the dissolution and it was a protest election.
"It was a snap election, a surprise election, but it was also a voice of protest where the people were sending out a very strong message to the nobility that you need to shift your thinking," Dr Pulu said.
"A democracy is meant to progress, it's meant to improve, it's meant to become more inclusive."
Previously there had only been five women elected into Tonga's parliament.
Seven of the nine seats set aside for the 33 hereditary Nobles and five life peers, were returned to the incumbents, with Lord Fakafanua and Lord Vaha'i of Ha'apai and and Tongatapu respectively, entering parliament afresh, although the latter needed a coin toss to decide a tied vote.
Lord Fusitu'a was re-elected as Noble's representative to the far north Niuas.
Noble's MP, Lord Fusitu'a Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta
He said Thursday's election should be used as an opportunity to heal the divisions of the past term and parliamentarians could learn from the last few years.
"The country as a whole, particularly the MPs, there is some healing that needs to be done and I think a return to our historical paradigm, which was the Noble's MPs working in consensus with the People's MPs towards a common goal of building the nation as well as possible and finding a way forward."
The country will now await the Return of the Writs, which has to happen by November 30th, and then MPs will meet to elect a Prime Minister and form government.
Mr Pohiva's party won 14 of the 17 seats. Photo credit: Getty
In what's being described as a remarkable and resounding victory, commoner Akilisi Pohiva's Democratic Party has won the majority of seats in Tonga's elections.
Mr Pohiva's party won 14 of the 17 seats and he is likely to be reinstalled as the Kingdom's Prime Minister.
The election was held a year early, after King George Tupou VI took the unprecedented step to intervene and dissolve Parliament, effectively ending Mr Pohiva's reign.
The King made the move after receiving a series of complaints from Parliament's speaker, one of which claimed that Mr Pohiva was trying to strip away power from the Monarchy.
Massey University's Pasifika director, associate professor Malakai Koloamatangi, says it appears no-one took much notice of the allegations.
"To win 14 of the 17 seats is remarkable and obviously he had great success. I think what the public has said is that they don't necessarily believe or care about the charges against Pohiva."
As the new government is formed, Mr Koloamatangi says Mr Pohiva must ensure there's greater unity among politicians to avoid constant infighting and disagreement.
"The question of whether he puts together a credible [government] and performs as Prime Minister is another question. There is opportunity for Pohiva to smooth things over."
Mr Koloamatangi believes the win for Mr Pohiva is part of a gradual shift in Tonga that has seen power being handed to the people.
"I think what Pohiva has tried to do over the years is give more power to the people. I don't think there's anything sinister in that. I see it as a continued evolution of power. It's part of the King becoming more ceremonial."
Some 59,000 people registered to vote in the general election. As well as the 17 People's Representatives seats, nine Nobles will also take positions in parliament.
The idea is simple: creating an open “Portal” where engaged and committed citizens who feel to share their ideas and offer their opinions on development related issues have the opportunity to do...
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