Fiji Labour Party Leader and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry is calling on Government to establish a commission of inquiry into the 2022 General Election without much delay.
Chaudhry said there were too many reports of anomalies such as votes at polling stations not being reflected on the Protocol of Results, extra votes showing up in ballot boxes – all of which reflected adversely on the integrity and credibility of the 2022 election.
He said the inquiry should also examine the expenditure incurred in the 2022 general elections by the Fijian Elections Office to determine whether relevant rules and financial regulations had been complied with.
“We have reason to believe otherwise,” he said.
“Of particular concern was the so-called “glitch” in the FEO app for close to 6 hours. The Parties said the explanation given by the SOE for the “glitch” was inadequate and unacceptable.”
“Similar ‘glitches’ had occurred in 2018 and 2014 – after which the results had dramatically changed in favour of Fiji First as it did on the night and early morning of 14/15 December.”
Chaudhry has also questioned the absence of Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem.
“Saneem left the country after the Writ of Election was returned to the President on 19 December 2022.
“As Supervisor he is required under s109 (1) of the Electoral Act to submit a report of the results of the elections in the approved form to the Electoral Commission within one month.”
“In our view he should be disciplined on his return and suspended from office to permit an independent inquiry into the 2022 electoral process,” he said.
