A newly proposed political party, One Nation, formally lodged its application for registration with the Fijian Elections Office on Thursday, 21 May 2026, Registrar of Political Parties Ana Mataiciwa confirmed. The submission follows an earlier attempt to register under the name “FijiansFirst,” which was rejected because it was judged too similar to the deregistered FijiFirst party.
Under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, proposed party names must not closely resemble those of deregistered parties where similarity could cause public confusion. The FijiFirst party was officially deregistered in July 2024, a decision that continues to shape how new groups brand themselves as they seek formal recognition. Mataiciwa said the change of name to One Nation was made to address the legal concerns that blocked the prior application.
Mataiciwa said the office is preparing to publish One Nation’s application both in local newspapers and in the Fiji Government Gazette. That publication will trigger the formal objections period, during which members of the public may lodge written objections to the proposed party’s registration. She explained that once the proposed party is given an opportunity to respond to any objections, the Registrar will review all submissions within seven days.
A final determination on One Nation’s registration will be reached only after the internal legal review and the objections process are complete. Past practice indicates that parties or objectors unhappy with the Registrar’s decision have recourse to appeal to the Electoral Commission within the statutory timeframe; Mataiciwa has reiterated the office’s commitment to following the law and allowing due process to run its course.
The One Nation filing is the latest move in a wider reshaping of Fiji’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 general election. Over the past year there has been a notable uptick in new party activity: the Fijian Elections Office reported multiple proposed parties working through registration requirements in 2025, and by mid-2025 name reservations had climbed as groups prepared to contest the next election. Earlier this year, the People First party successfully completed registration in January, underlining the steady expansion of registered political options.
Mataiciwa emphasised that transparency and public participation are central to the registration process, saying the office will ensure legal requirements are met and that the public has a clear window to raise concerns. Until the statutory publication, objections and legal review are finalised, One Nation remains a proposed party awaiting an official verdict from the Registrar.