The former Executive Secretary of the Electoral Commission of Fiji (ECF), Sefanaia Tudonu, provided significant testimony during the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) regarding the conduct of Chairperson Barbara Malimali. According to the CoI report, Tudonu explained that a crucial meeting on April 2, 2024, contained controversial elements, especially when discussions shifted towards grievances involving two politicians, Hon. Prasad and Hon. Tabuya. At that moment, it was revealed that Malimali had requested the audio recording of the meeting to be paused, and notably, the recording was not resumed, leaving parts of the meeting undocumented.
Tudonu elaborated that there were concerns regarding the Acting Supervisor of Elections referring complaints to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) without prior consultation with the ECF. Furthermore, he stated that Malimali had unilaterally altered a critical letter recommending Mr. Graham Leung for the SoE position, making changes that had not been discussed or authorized in earlier meetings among ECF Commissioners.
Adding to the complexity, the release of an amended letter to the Constitutional Offices Commission (CoC) triggered an immediate backlash, as its contents were leaked on social media just an hour after Tudonu submitted it. Following the leak, ECF Commissioners sought to review the letter, but Malimali, citing various reasons, did not provide it. Pressure mounted on Tudonu as he cited his inability to release the letter without the Chairperson’s approval. Eventually, the amended letter was disclosed about a week later after Malimali gave the green light, which led to the formation of a separate Viber group by the ECF Commissioners that excluded both the SoE and Tudonu from further communications.
This situation echoes previous testimonies by ECF members, such as Dr. Atu Emberson Bain, who expressed frustrations regarding the lack of communication from the CoC, with pressing recommendations for a restart in the SoE appointment process due to perceived flaws in the recruitment procedure. In light of these events, and with ongoing scrutiny over Malimali’s leadership amid accusations of misconduct, there is potential for these investigations to catalyze much-needed governance reforms.
Such inquiries could help restore public confidence in Fiji’s electoral system, emphasizing the importance of accountability, transparency, and adherence to ethical standards in political processes, which are crucial for the health of democratic institutions in the country.
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