Fiji’s Opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) Leader Viliame Gavoka says he will step down from his position.
He said according to the party’s constitution, he has 30 days to finalise his report and then vacate his seat.
Gavoka will remain as SODELPA’s leader until January next year.
“The spirit of the constitution is that I vacate the seat and I want to do that.”
Gavoka said the party had faced leadership issues before and he does not want this type of conflict to continue.
Following the 2022 General Election, Gavoka polled 3,793 votes.
Meanwhile, FijiFirst General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claims that SODELPA’s lead negotiator Anare Jale did not present everything they had proposed during their meeting.
Earlier, SODELPA General Secretary Lenaitasi Duru, claimed the management board meeting on Tuesday was unconstitutional.
Duru claims that two members who voted were not supposed to be part of the meeting because they were non-active members.
Speaking during a press conference in Suva Wednesday, Sayed-Khaiyum said they are also happy to meet the SODELPA board again.
Sayed-Khaiyum further claims that Jale only presented small bits of what the FijiFirst Party was offering.
However, he said for now, the constitution needs to be followed and FijiFirst have been offered another shot with SODELPA likely to have another round of voting.
“Why didn’t Anare Jale present a full submission to the board, why did he do that. Is someone taking something under the table. We have heard many anecdotes in the past number of days, what people have been offered individually in the board.”
Sayed-Khaiyum said legally what the so call coalition are saying does not matter.
SOURCE: FBC NEWS/PACNEWS
