Social Democratic Liberal Party Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka

Social Democratic Liberal Party Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka says the decision to withdraw the Election Petition was not taken lightly.

SODELPA and the National Federation Party who had filed the petition in the Court of Disputed Returns – challenging the outcome of the 2018 General Election, withdrew their petition late yesterday afternoon.

Rabuka says although they’re disappointed with the decision of the Court to reject six of their eight proposed witnesses, they must accept it and continue to respect the rule of law.

He says a number of options were considered adding, that all eight witnesses were necessary and crucial to establishing all the grounds of their Petition.

Rabuka says therefore, they had no choice but to withdraw the Petition since six of their key witnesses were not approved by the Court to be given the opportunity to provide oral evidence.

“I don’t think the outcome would have been different so calling it now calling it later and if we were strictly thinking about money could have been this way or that way.”

Meanwhile, he has urged his supporters for their continued support adding that they have another four years to prepare themselves to become the next government.

NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad says they will be releasing a statement soon.