The Coalition Government’s commitment to investigate the ‘glitch’ that occurred during the 2022 General Election in Fiji remains unfulfilled, leaving citizens frustrated nearly two years later. Supervisor of Elections (SoE) Ana Mataiciwa highlighted that, despite ongoing preparations for the 2026 elections, there have been no clear directives from Justice Minister Siromi Turaga regarding how to proceed with this significant issue.
The glitch, which took place on December 14, 2022, involved a malfunction of the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) app during the counting of votes, leading to a suspension of provisional results and confusion around vote tallies. Previously, it was reported that former SoE Mohammed Saneem attributed the malfunction to issues surrounding data transmission, resulting in incorrect vote counts for several candidates. This incident raised concerns among political figures, including Sitiveni Rabuka, the then-leader of the People’s Alliance party, who expressed distrust regarding the legitimacy of the election results.
Mataiciwa has repeatedly emphasized the urgency for a comprehensive report on the incident, stating, “Two years have passed since the elections, and many stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and voters, want updates on this matter.” She also brought attention to logistical challenges, such as the storage of ballot boxes, as the FEO gears up for the upcoming elections.
During a recent forum on cybercrime, Minister Turaga acknowledged the ongoing investigation, confirming that discussions with the Electoral Commission are still underway and that the report is under review. The protracted nature of these investigations underlines the complexities associated with ensuring electoral integrity and transparency.
While the delay in addressing these issues is concerning, it is crucial to remain hopeful that the continuation of discussions will lead to resolutions that restore public trust and improve the electoral framework in Fiji. The commitment to thorough evaluations and transparency reflects a sincere effort by the government to uphold democratic values and ensure that future elections will be conducted fairly.
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