Former FijiFirst party MP Premila Kumar says she and other Opposition MPs intend to appeal against the Registrar of Political Parties Ana Mataiciwa’s decision to deregister the party.
Ms Kumar would not disclose any information when asked by this newspaper on who else would be part of that appeal process.
Former FijiFirst colleague and Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu told this newspaper he has made his stance clear in a letter to Speaker Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu last week that he would remain an independent MP.
He said his colleagues were “free to make their own choices now”.
When approached earlier this week on the issue of appeal, former FijiFirst acting general secretary Faiyaz Koya said he would not be the one appealing.
Attempts to get a comment from former party general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum have also been futile.
On July 1, Ms Mataiciwa announced the deregistration of FijiFirst for failing to amend its constitution.
The amendment, according to Ms Mataiciwa, was for the inclusion of guidelines on how internal disputes were to be resolved within the party.
She said the lack of such guidelines was a direct breach of the Political Parties Act, 2013.
MPs intending to appeal against the decision by the Fijian Elections Office have until Monday, July 15, when the appeal period expires.
