I believe only a small group within SODELPA want to remove me as leader, I want to talk to them one-on-one and tell them to stop this – Gavoka

There is now increasing talk about a leadership challenge looming against SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka however Gavoka believes there is only a small group that is trying to instigate this while the majority of the party members are behind him.

Gavoka says he wants to meet these people on a one-on-one basis and work things out with them as this is not a time to change the party leader because the election is around the corner.

He says the party leader is given the mandate to take the party to the general election.

Gavoka says this mandate was given to him following a very robust selection process that was contested by 8 candidates, and the mandate can only be changed through the AGM.

One of the reasons for the leadership challenge is the belief of some within SODELPA that Gavoka is not being an effective leader because the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is his son-in-law.

Gavoka says everyone knows he is loyal to SODELPA, and the FijiFirst and SODELPA are poles apart.

He says the management board meeting will be held before the end of this month and the party’s AGM will be held by December.