There's more confusion in Fiji surrounding the leadership role of the main opposition party.
The Social Democratic Liberal Party or Sodelpa was suspended on May 25th by the Elections Office for breaching political rules and its constitution.
The suspension was lifted 35 days later after the Registrar of Political Parties found it had complied with the constitution.
The leader of Fiji's opposition SODELPA party Sitiveni Rabuka announces his party's candidates to contest next month's elections. Photo: RNZ / Kelvin Anthony
Last week, the party announced it had advertised the position of party leader as Sitiveni Rabuka's tenure had lapsed since Sodelpa's defeat at the 2018 General Election.
General secretary Emele Duituturaga said the positions of party leader, president and two vice presidents had been advertised.
Ms Duituturaga said under the Sodelpa constitution, the party leader must abdicate the position if the party loses the election.
But Registrar of political parties, Mohammed Saneem, said according to records at the Elections Office, Mr Rabuka was still the Sodelpa leader.
This was confusing, Ms Duituturaga said, as the reason the party was suspended in the first place was due to this breach.
She said she would be taking up her concerns with Mr Saneem for further clarification on the matter.
Mohammed Saneem. Photo: Fiji govt
Meanwhile, the High Court in Suva has ruled that former party executives Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Adi Litia Qionibaravi and Usaia Waqatairewa pay plaintiffs Watisoni Nata, Mere Samisoni and Ms Duituturaga $1650 in legal costs.
In April, Mr Nata - who is the party's Suva Constituency president - and his group had claimed that the Sodelpa election of its executives at its AGM held in Savusavu last year and subsequent actions thereafter were done in breach of not only the party constitution but also the Political Parties Act 2013 and the Constitution of Fiji.
Other plaintiffs included Kesaia Makita, Asenaca Ravulo, Rogowale Seniviavia, Jope Koroisavou, Silivenusi Waqausa and Malakai Vuetibau.
The defendants are the party (first) and its officials, Ro Filipe Tuisawau (second), Adi Litia Qionibaravi (third), Anare Jale (fourth) and Usaia Waqatairewa (fifth).
