Parliament

Nawaikula's seat in Parliament now vacant

July 23, 2021 6:47 pm

Niko Nawaikula

Niko Nawaikula’s seat in Parliament is now vacant.

This comes after the Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, got advice from Election Supervisor, Mohammed Saneem, saying Nawaikula had been ejected from the National Register of Voters.

This comes as in June Saneem referred Nawaikula to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.

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Nawaikula during debate in Parliament on VoterCard had said he is usually known as Niko Nawaikula, but that’s not the name on his birth certificate and his name on the VoterCard is incorrect

Saneem at the time said FICAC is to investigate whether Nawaikula provided a false declaration to a registration official when he made an application to replace his VoterCard on 22 June 2017.

Ratu Epeli says under the constitution, a person loses his seat in Parliament, when the person’s right to be nominated as a candidate ceases.

A person can only be a candidate, if the name is registered in the register.

Ratu Epeli says Nawaikula has seven days to take this matter to the Court of Disputed Returns.

Nawaikula says he has the option to challenge this in court and has contacted his Solicitor.

The now former MP says he has contacted some very close friends to assist him finance his court challenge.