Social Democratic Liberal Party President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu will not be standing for this year’s General Election.

This was exclusively revealed to FBC News by Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka, who says despite this they are still keeping their options open for Ratu Naiqama.

FBC News understands this will be a major blow for SODELPA as Ratu Naiqama has opted to remain with the party and showed no intentions of standing for the upcoming General Elections.

“In the case of the party president he was not going to run and he has not declared his intentions to run.”

The move by Ratu Naiqama will somehow have an impact on SODELPA as majority of the party supporters from Cakaudrove are backing him.

However, Rabuka says the door is still open for Ratu Naiqama if he wants to be a candidate.

“If there is a change that will be considered by the management board and in the absence of the management board it will be considered by the working committee and the candidate’s selection committee.”

Meanwhile Rabuka has also confirmed that those names that were not announced as provisional candidates have not met the requirements set out by the party.