There is a legal challenge in court now against SODELPA, the President of the party, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Anare Jale, Adi Litia Qionibaravi and Usaia Waqatairewa which has been filed by SODELPA members and constituency executives.
SODELPA MP Anare Jale
The SODELPA members led by the party’s Suva Constituency President, Watisoni Nata have filed the action as they allege that SODELPA and the executives named in the action have breached the party constitution, the Political Parties Act and the Constitution of Fiji.
SODELPA MP Adi Litia Qionibaravi
Other members who have filed the action against their own party and executives include SODELPA Youth Wing President, Jope Koroisavou, SODELPA’s Vice President of the Women’s Forum, Doctor Mere Samisoni, the party’s Secretary of the Women’s Forum, Emele Duituturaga, SODELPA Women’s Wing Lami President, Kesaia Makita and the party’s Lami Youth executive, Asenaca Ravulo.
They say the court challenge filed has been done to strengthen the party’s accountability for its voters and supporters.
The Watisoni Nata led group have said that this court action is a demonstration to the people of this nation that SODELPA believes in good governance, accountability of its executives, and that the party’s members have the legal right to seek the court’s intervention in circumstances such as these.
They say that recent elections held in Savusavu and subsequent actions thereafter, have been alleged to have been done in breach of not only the SODELPA Constitution, but also the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act and the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji.
The members say that this case has come about following the failure to address the contentious issues internally, and which was exhausted for 2 months following the AGM in Savusavu on the 28th of June, 2019.
They say this court action is set to ensure that in 2022, SODELPA is the party that takes leadership, because it espouses strong leadership values.
Relief sought from the court according to court applications are for, amongst other things, the holding of fresh elections to appoint certain office bearers of the party and the nullifying of the results of the Savusavu elections.
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