Tuicolo likely to fill seat as Sayed-Khaiyum is nominated for Commission post
Alipate Tuicolo is likely to replace the vacant parliamentary seat of the former Opposition Member of Parliament Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
This is after Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was nominated as member of the Constitutional Offices Commission by Opposition leader Voreqe Bainimarama.
Mr Tuicolo, who garnered 590 votes in the 2022 General Election was the Assistant Minister for Sports in the FijiFirst Government.
In a live video on the FijiFirst Facebook page, Mr Bainimarama said he deliberately nominated the former AttorneyGeneral during the Constitutional Offices Commission meeting on New Year’s Day.
The agenda of that meeting included the consideration of the offices under the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC).
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum attended the meeting virtually from Australia.
What Constitution says
Mr Bainimarama said that his nomination of Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was subject to Section 63 (1) (b) of the Fijian Constitution.
It states that the seat of a member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member with the member’s consent, becomes the holder of a public office and is define in Section 57 of the Constitution.
He said that under Section 57 ‘Public Office’, which included the membership of the commission, it meant that subject to the various relevant provisions of the Constitution and process of the Constitution,
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s parliamentary seat was now vacant.
“I deliberately nominated the former Attorney-General to COC because he and I, together, will provide the best representation of the COC,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“We will highlight all the anomalies that have already commenced and defend the Constitutional appointments, and of course the Constitution.”
“The protection of the Constitution and Constitutionalism is critically important in a truly democratic society, we must defend these values and we must also take action.”
Mr Bainimarama clarified that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who is also currently the general secretary of FijiFirst exit, means that he will now be able to fully concentrate on FijiFirst matters outside Parliament.
“I will be leading the charge in Parliament while he will be leading the charge outside Parliament,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“As you are aware, FijiFirst has the largest number of seats in Parliament, no other party does.”