Chaudhry writes to SOE, Electoral Commission and FICAC, and questions why FijiFirst has not been referred to FICAC

Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry has today written to the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem requesting Saneem for an official reply to Chaudhry’s complaint regarding the FijiFirst Party putting up it’s banner on the Suva City Council carpark.

Chaudhry says while he appreciates Saneem taking swift action on it by directing the FijiFirst and the SCC to remove the campaign material, Chaudhry needs to be officially notified of Saneem’s decision.

The FLP Leader writes in his letter to Saneem that he notes that Saneem has not referred the serious breach committed by the officials of the FijiFirst Party and the SCC to FICAC for investigation.

Chaudhry writes that the fact Saneem ordered the removal of the campaign material is sufficient proof of his acceptance that the parties have breached Section 112(3) of the Electoral Act.

The FLP Leader writes to Saneem that in the circumstances, he should now refer the matter to FICAC to commence the due process, as he did in the case of Opposition political parties on complaints made against them by the General Secretary of the FijiFirst Party, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Chaudhry says the FEO must treat everyone equally without fear or favour, and there must be no double standards.

He says according to media reports, the FijiFirst in a Facebook posting is blaming its Media Team for the “unfortunate and inadvertent error”. Chaudhry says this explanation is not acceptable, nor does it constitute a legitimate defence.

The FLP Leader says it is inconceivable that a poster of this magnitude, presumably costing several thousand dollars, would have been placed by its Media Team without the knowledge and authority of the Party’s General Secretary.

He says the poster was authorised by the General Secretary of the FijiFirst, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, as stated in print at the bottom of the poster itself.

Chaudhry says Sayed-Khaiyum must, therefore, be held accountable for it.

The letter has copied to the Commissioner FICAC for his information and necessary action.

A letter has also been sent to the Electoral Commission.

We have sent questions to Saneem.

FICAC has confirmed they have received the complaint against the FijiFirst.

Sayed-Khaiyum has not responded since yesterday.

The FijiFirst Party had said earlier this week that the placement of a FijiFirst banner on the Suva City Council carpark building was an unfortunate and inadvertent error by the party’s Media Team.

The party says on it's facebook page that they have also received correspondence from the Fijian Elections Office and they thank them for taking note of this matter.

The FijiFirst says the banner will be removed within the provided timeframe.

They says they of course subscribe to the premise that all parties are required to place their campaign material in public areas approved and designated for the placement of campaign materials by the Fijian Elections Offices.

FijiFirst says it remains committed to adhering to, and upholding the electoral laws, and working with the Fijian Elections Office in order to achieve a free, fair and credible election, and one where all parties are treated on a level playing field.

The Fijian Elections Office has directed the FijiFirst and the SCC to remove campaign material that has been placed on the Suva Civic Carpark.

The FEO noted that the Suva Civic Carpark is not an approved designated area for placement of campaign materials and therefore, FijiFirst has accordingly been directed to remove the material.

They have been given until 4pm tomorrow to do so failing which the Supervisor of Elections will consider further action according to the Electoral Act 2014.

The FijiFirst banner has been removed.