SODELPA's AGM breached the constitution of the party and the country

High Court Judge Justice Vishwa Datt Sharma has today declared that the AGM of SODELPA in June last year in Savusavu breached the party’s constitution and the 2013 constitution and the election of Ro Filipe Tuisawau as SODELPA President and Adi Litia Qionibaravi as the Vice President at the AGM were invalid.

Justice Sharma has declared the decisions, resolutions and outcomes of the AGM of SODELPA in June 2019 are invalid.

The High Court Judge has also declared that all subsequent actions, meetings, resolutions, decisions, outcomes and directives of the management board following the AGM of SODELPA including the acceptance of Adi Litia Qionibaravi’s retrospective resignation and the appointment of Usaia Waqatairewa as the General Secretary of SODELPA are unlawful, invalid and ineffective.

Adi Litia Qionibaravi and Usaia Waqatairewa

The court has also declared that Adi Litia has ceased to be a member of the management board by virtue of certain sections of the party’s constitution.

Justice Sharma has also said that the mere fact that the defendants have acted in breach as referred to in his judgement does not mean that Ro Filipe and Waqatairewa are not entitled to hold office in their respective capacity as party President, Vice President and General Secretary.

He also says it is a matter for the financial members of SODELPA to elect or remove office bearers of SODELPA and further it is not a matter for the court to do so.

SODELPA’s Suva Constituency President Watisoni Nata, SODELPA’s Youth Wing President, Jope Koroisavou, the party’s Vice President of the Women’s Forum, Doctor Mere Samisoni, the party’s Secretary of the Women’s Forum, Emele Duituturaga, SODELPA Women’s Wing Lami President, Kesaia Makita and the party’s Lami Youth executive, Asenaca Ravulo had taken legal action against the party executives.

The legal action was filed against SODELPA President, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Anare Jale, Adi Litia Qionibaravi and Usaia Waqatairewa.

SODELPA President, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Anare Jale, Adi Litia Qionibaravi 

The defendants have also been ordered to pay the plaintiffs $2,000 within 14 days.