Tabuya quits Fiji's Sodelpa, joins Rabuka's party

Fiji's main opposition party has suffered a major setback - eight months out of the general election.

Opposition Whip Lynda Tabuya has resigned from the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) effective immediately.

Tabuya told a media conference on Friday she had tendered her resignation to the party headquarters and the Registrar of Political Parties.

Tabuya said she had been unhappy with the party politics for a long time.

"The party is at its lowest that is actually one of the factors that have actually influenced my decision to leave Sodelpa when I handed in my resignation to the party."

Tabuya led a walkout during a party management meeting in Suva on 21 December.

Tabuya had told media outside the venue that the meeting was to decide the fate of party General Secretary Lenaitasi Duru.

But she said Sodelpa President Ratu Epenisa Cakobau had stopped the proceedings even though the majority of the board wanted to take a vote.

Tabuya also claimed that she had the support of majority of the board who wanted Duru's contract terminated.

"They have hijacked the party and the management board members in making a decision in terms of making due process of the allegations against the general secretary, party leader and president.

"They have stopped it, they ended the meeting, we still have motions going on the floor when he (Cakobau) told a member to stand up and say the closing prayer and they stopped the meeting abruptly."

Tabuya also claimed Duru was investigated for perjury alongside Sodelpa leader Viliame Gavoka and that both men had failed to effectively manage the party's office.

But Gavoka said the decision on Duru's future with the party was for a later date.

Duru had replaced Emele Duituturaga, who quit in March 2021 - less than a year after being appointed general secretary.

Gavoka said Ratu Epenisa had made the right decision to stop the proceedings.

Gavoka also claimed that certain board members had tried to rail-road the management meeting and force a vote.

"They decided to prosecute and judge it, especially the case about the general secretary and we disagree with that, you can't do that to a person."

A committee has been set up to investigate allegations against Gavoka and Duru and their findings will be tabled before the party's board.

The committee comprised Fijian rugby legend Ratu Ilaitia Tuisese, former judge Seromi Turaga and music icon Laisa Vulakoro.

Sodelpa crisis continues

This is not the first time Sodelpa has been rocked with controversy.

In July 2020, the party was embroiled in a "constitutional crisis," after the Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem said Sodelpa was in breach of its own constitution by not holding its annual general meeting (AGM) by 30 June.

The party's "casual appointments" of president and both vice presidents had also lapsed, according to Saneem, and the term of its then leader Sitiveni Rabuka had expired in 2019.

The criticism of the party came just over a week after Saneem had lifted Sodelpa's 60-day ban from parliament for breaching the Political Parties Act.

Sodelpa was also investigated over its electoral funds and several MPs were questioned by the Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) over alleged breaches of the Parliamentary Remuneration Act.

The MPs were investigated for allegedly claiming travel and accommodation allowances they were not entitled to.

Lynda Tabuya said she was joining forces with former Sodelpa leader and Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his People's Alliance Party (PAP).

Rabuka had formed the PAP shortly after resigning from Parliament in December 2020.

"The door to the People's alliance will be open to anyone from Sodelpa who wants to move in with us," Rabuka said.

Former Sodelpa deputy leader Filimoni Vosarogo had also resigned in November last year to join Rabuka.

In a statement, the Suva-based lawyer said he spoke on the need of a unified Sodelpa during the party's AGM last year.

It was only a year since Vosarogo became deputy leader of Sodelpa, which has been plagued with intra-party conflicts since 2019.

"I have consulted with peers, close friends and those who have supported me in the deputy leader lead-up last year. Most importantly, I have the confidence of my family in this decision.

"I will be joining the People's Alliance party as an ordinary member from next week, supporting the party for GE2022."

Vosarogo wished Sodelpa well with president Ratu Epenisa Cakobau confirming Vosarogo's resignation.