The Fijian Elections Office [‘FEO’] has noted that there have been media enquiries and statements made regarding the complaint from FijiFirst dated 20 September 2022. The following statement is being made to ensure that the most up-to-date information is relayed in the public domain in relation to the handling of the complaint by the FEO this far.
The following is an update as at 5pm today, 23 September 2022.
21 September 2022 – The SoE/Registrar referred various individuals and implicated political parties to FICAC for the matters that were established to have already been a probable breach of the Electoral Act and the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding & Disclosures) Act. Refer to press releases dated 22 September 2022.
On 22 September 2022, the SoE also raised public concerns on the organization known as ‘Rock the Vote Fiji’ which has been noted to have been actively campaigning for and has the active involvement of senior representatives of The People’s Alliance. It is also noted that Rock the Vote Fiji has since then shut down its Facebook page. The FEO has over 325 screenshots of the Facebook activity of this group and the same has been analyzed.
Letters to Faith Grace, Social Democratic Liberal Party and Seini Nabou were dispatched on 22 September 2022 with necessary enquiries/ requirements.
On 23 September 2022, the FEO has written letters to make enquiries on the activities of Rock the Vote Fiji and Covid-19 Maternity Relief Fund held by the People’s Alliance. These letters have been sent to Lynda Tabuya, various bus companies and the People’s Alliance.
The FEO has also made specific enquiries in relation to breaches of sections of the Electoral Act arising out of the activities of Rock the Vote Fiji and the use of the Covid-19 Maternity Relief Fund.
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