NFP Leader Changes Tune On Naming FijiFirst Parliamentarian
National Federation Party (NFP) leader Biman Prasad will not name the FijiFirst parliamentarian whom he claimed told his friends that the 2018 General Election was rigged.
He had also claimed that the FijiFirst parliamentarian was under the influence of liquor at a hotel at the time.
He made these claims in Parliament early this month and said he would reveal the name of the parliamentarian.
However, he changed tune at a press conference on Friday.
“(Attorney-General Aiyaz) SayedKhaiyum claimed that I made accusations about vote rigging in 2018. He has challenged me to give details. Again, he has got it wrong,” Mr Prasad said
”Sometimes, I wonder whether he is sitting in Parliament listening to what the Opposition and people like us say. He must be dreaming sometimes in Parliament.
“I quote from what I said in Parliament ‘it is not me that talked about vote rigging, it is one of his party members, one of his own MPs who talked about it’.
“Of course, I am not going to tell him which MP said it. I am waiting for the MP to tell us more. They might reveal more, but let me say to Sayed-Khaiyum if he wants to know more about it he should ask some of his silent 25 MPs and do his own investigation inside his own parliamentary office.
Mr Prasad claimed that Mr SayedKhaiyum always raved and vented about political party donations.
A-G responds
FijiFirst General Secretary Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum responded and said: “We are aware that a complaint has been lodged by National Federation Party with the Supervisor of Elections.
“Unlike our political opponents, in response to complaints or investigations against us, we do not make public statements, or have statements made on our behalf on social media.
“Accordingly, any complaints against us, and which have been referred to us by the Fijian Elections Office, will be dealt with in the proper manner - which means that we will respond only and directly to the Fijian Elections Office, and not to the complainant, the media or any other third party.
“FijiFirst believes in and stands for due process, and will provide its response to the Fijian Elections Office.”