The general-secretary of Fiji's main opposition party, Emele Duituturaga, has quit, less than a year on the job.
PIANGO Executive Director, Emele Duituturanga. Photo: supplied
Duituturaga tendered her resignation to Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) president Ratu Epenisa Cakobau on Tuesday.
Duituturaga, who was appointed to the position in June last year, has cited personal and family reasons for leaving the office.
SODELPA leader Viliame Gavoka said the party has accepted her formal resignation.
Gavoka said Duituturaga's contribution had enabled the party to overcome a suspension by the Supervisor of Elections amid months of uncertainty last year.
He said under her strong leadership, SODELPA was able to build on its preparations for the 2022 General Elections.
Prior to becoming Sodelpa's chief executive, Duituturaga was head of the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO).
Gavoka said she would remain a senior member of the party and had pledged to continue to offer her service as needed.
"She's a brilliant lady and I have enjoyed working with her," he said. "The position of general-secretary is a very critical one for any political party in Fiji.
"She is the registered officer for the party. She's the only one who's authorised to represent the party in the relationship with the registrar of political parties and supervisor of elections."
We wish her well in her future endeavours and we are comforted that she will remain an ardent and loyal supporter, he said.
Viliame Gavoka. Photo: Supplied
Sodelpa suspension
In May last year following months of unrest within the party, Sodelpa was suspended from Parliament by the Elections Office for breaching political rules and the party constitution. The suspension was lifted a month later.
The suspension came after a feud between factions in the party came to the fore when separate AGMs were held to elect the office bearers.
One faction took the party to court over the AGM held in Savusavu in 2019, contesting the validity of the elections held there.
A judge agreed. The High Court ruled that the election of then party president Ro Filipe Tuisawau and his deputy, Adi Litia Qionibaravi, was illegal and party decisions dating back to last June were void.
Following the court ruling, the Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem said political rules and the constitution had been breached, and he declared all SODELPA appointments null and void.
"Failure of the party to remedy the breaches and contraventions of the law will result in the party being asked to show cause why it should not be deregistered," Saneem said.
Former Sodelpa leader Sitiveni Rabuka said a lack of transparency regarding donations and a failure to handle differences had split the party.
Meanwhile, Gavoka said assistant general-secretary Lenaitasi Duru will act in the position.
He said a board meeting would be held to begin the recruitment of Duituturaga's successor.
According to the party's consitution, the appointment must be made by 26 April - 30 days from Duituturaga's last day in office.