SODELPA reviews validity of ad of party leader post

SODELPA is reviewing the validity of an advertisement they put out last month for the position of Party Leader.

The ad called for expressions of interest from interested individuals who will spearhead SODELPA’s preparations for the 2022 General Election.

The cut-off date for the applications was yesterday, May 8.

Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka said they need to review whether the validity of the ad is impacted by the recent SODELPA High Court ruling.

However, he said the inner workings of the party continues regardless of an appeal or not and until a stay is granted by the court.

“We can assume that the decision of the High Court is the correct way to go which means that those of us that are not tainted by the decision can continue and carry on the administration and the preparations required,” Mr Rabuka said.

“All the officials appointed at the AGM cannot function so it will be those of us that were not affected by the decision of the AGM that will continue and get the machinery going and get the new management board to be prepared to come and the working committee and make the decisions from then on and also prepare for the general meeting,” he said.

“They have not applied for a stay. If they apply for a stay and the stay was granted while they pursue the appeal then it will be different, right now we work on the judgment, with what we can do with the judgment.”

Mr Rabuka further stated that elections held within constituencies depends on who conducted it. “If Pita (Usaia Waqatairewa) did it then they are all null and void.

“It will need a legal opinion if they are autonomous and if they are registered with the party, with the registrar of political parties. I think they are all part of SODELPA and SODELPA is a defendant in the court case.”