National Candidates List announced

The National Candidates List has been announced by the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem although the Electoral Commission decided just minutes before the draw to boycott this morning’s process.

You can check out the candidates list with their numbers for the 2014 general elections right here on our website, fijivillage.com

This is after the draw at the Elections Office earlier today.

Electoral Commission Chairman, Chen Bunn Young told Fijivillage that they decided to boycott the candidates draw because their decisions on the appeals and objections were not taken into account.

Fiji Labour Party’s Secretary General, Mahendra Chaudhry and People’s Democratic Party President, Lynda Tabuya also raised some concerns before the drawing of the candidates’ names and numbers.

However Saneem said that they have to go ahead with the draw.

Chaudhry and Tabuya then walked out of the draw.

Chaudhry said their main concern is that one of their proposed candidate Steven Singh’s nomination was rejected by the Elections Office.

He also said that the party had also received a letter from the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem.

He added that he had not walked out but he had to attend a meeting in the west.

Meanwhile, Tabuya explained that she walked out because the Supervisor of Elections did not follow the Electoral Commission’s ruling that FijiFirst candidate, Praveen Kumar Bala should not contest the election.

Tabuya added that PDP will still contest the election but they will still challenge the decision made by the Elections Office.

Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem told us in a press conference at about 6.30 last night that the draw will go ahead according to the candidates list released on the 19th of this month as the Electoral Commission’s decision on the appeals was not given to him by the 4pm deadline.

Saneem said based on that he took legal advice from the Solicitor General.

He said the legal advice states that due to the non-delivery of the decision, the Electoral Commission has frustrated the provisions of the decree in particular section 30 and 31.

He referred to sections which say that the decisions have to be handed within three days of the receipt of the appeal.

Saneem said if there are any additions they will seek legal advice whether it’s now binding or not and that is something they will look at once they receive it.

However Electoral Commission Chairman, Chen Bunn Young announced that they had made their decision at 2pm yesterday to rule in favor of one objection and one appeal filed.

He said the writing of the reasons took time.

The People’s Democratic Party objected against FijiFirst candidate Praveen Bala which was upheld and the Fiji Labour Party appealed for their candidate Steven Singh who was allowed to contest the September election by the Electoral Commission.

Young confirmed that the commission received eleven objections and ten reviews.

He added that they took legal advice from a firm of solicitors in New Zealand.

Young said he felt they had to take as much time as possible to make that particular decision.

He explained the position of the Electoral Commission by saying that they received the objections and reviews on the 19th of August and they had to work within a very tight framework.

He said they also gave the individuals a right of response after the receipt.

Young said they could not deliberate until they received responses from the different persons.

Young said he understands that the Supervisor of Elections took a different view from theirs.

He said the Electoral Commission took legal advice on what it meant for the three day period, when it started and when it came to an end.

Young added that Mohammed Saneem took a view that it would be 4pm however he disagreed with Saneem and as a precaution they took legal advice on this off-shore which made them quite comfortable that the timeframe of the delivery of the decision does not end at 4pm as the Supervisor of Elections thought.

Young added that the Supervisor of Elections is entitled to take legal advice from the Solicitor General.

He said they have always maintained as a Commission that in matters that would have some controversy or that require some complex interpretation they need to go out and seek separate legal advice.

He said the Constitution is also clear that they are not bound to take legal advice from the Solicitor General.

Meanwhile the Electoral Commission rejected the National Federation Party’s objection against FijiFirst candidates, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Mere Vuniwaqa.

NFP General Secretary, Kamal Iyer said that their objections were dismissed on the basis that both Sayed-Khaiyum and Vuniwaqa were not appointed to the position of the Electoral Commission or the Supervisor of Elections respectively.

Iyer said the Commission’s decision is final and cannot be challenged in court.

The Electoral Decree states that the decision of the Electoral Commission shall be final and shall not be subject to any further appeal, or review by any court, tribunal or any other adjudicating body.

The names of 248 candidates were drawn today as SODELPA’s proposed candidate, Carl Smith withdrew his name earlier this week.

We also spoke to some of the Political Parties after the National Candidates List announcement.

People’s Democratic Party President Lynda Tabuya said she is happy with the way the numbers were drawn.

FijiFirst General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum believes now the candidates will start campaigning on the candidate’s numbers.

One Fiji Party President, Filimoni Vosarogo said now the party will be focusing more on campaigning with their associated group.

Click here for the National Candidates List