Some SODELPA MPs are outraged and have called for the dismissal of Mick Beddoes after he posted a statement on his Facebook yesterday.

The principal administrative officer in the Opposition Office said SODELPA “can never hope to form a government as long as  disruptive elements remain part of it.”

Mr Beddoes was referring to MPs Mosese Bulitavu, Mikaele Leawere, Semesa Karavaki, Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki and Aseri Radrodro. The MPs had written to SODELPA calling for an inquiry into the controversial Gaunavinaka Report.

It is understood that in the heated email exchanges, some MPs accused Mr Beddoes of breaching party media rules and attacking MPs. Mr Beddoes could not be reached to comment.

None of the MPs nor party officials could also be contacted.

Mr Beddoes’ post came after Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa went public for the first time about the deepening split in the party that is threatening to destroy it. The conflict is between the reformers led by the five MPs and the old guard led by Ro Teimumu.

The serious crisis facing the party revolves around the Gaunavinaka Report which was critical of the Opposition Office governance and the leadership of Ro Teimumu.

The management board ordered an inquiry into the report after the five MPs requested it. Former permanent secretary of the Public Service Commission Anare Jale led an investigation team. In their findings Mr Jale noted there were “serious breaches” and recommended the closing of the Opposition Office bank account  and the transfer of the balance of the funds to  the party’s main account. The team recommended that Ro Teimumu and Opposition Whip Ratu Isoa Tikoca be expelled.

A disciplinary committee of Tupeni Baba, Emitai Boladuadua and a lawyer, however, concluded after studying the Jale Report that Ro Teimumu was not guilty of any wrongdoing.

In his post, Mr Beddoes outlined what  he described as achievements by Ro Teimumu and the Opposition: “Here’s the thing. … while we were doing all this, 5 SODELPA members of parliament and some officials at party HQ made the extraordinary decision to embrace an anonymous report containing smears of lies directed at the Leader and some of us in the office and embarked of a ‘Crusade to discredit’ Ro Teimumu, myself and a group of my colleagues.”

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