Sitiveni Rabuka should resign as SODELPA leader until the outcome of his court case is decided,  a majority of people told the latest Fiji Sun-Razor opinion poll.

One thousand people, 500 in the Central Division, 300 in the Western Division and 200 in the Northern Division, were interviewed face to face.

Sixty per cent wanted him to relinquish the position while the case is going on. Twenty-one per cent said no and 19 per cent were unsure.

Mr Rabuka faces charges laid by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). The charges relate to his declaration of his assets and liabilities under  The Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.

Despite the charges, Mr Rabuka jumped from 14 per cent last week to 16 per cent this week as the preferred prime minister. He increased his lead from Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa who dropped from eight per cent last week to three per cent this week.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama increased his lead from 58 per cent last week to 64 per cent this week. It coincided with his return from fulfilling his international commitments including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Climate change meetings in Bonn, Germany as COP23 president,  PALM8 meeting in Japan followed by meetings in Australia.

While he was away last week, Biman Prasad, the National Federation Party leader, hit double digits for the first time polling 12 per cent.

But this week Mr Prasad dropped to  eight per cent.

Mr Bainimarama has not started campaigning yet but he is already in a commanding lead.

Aman  Ravindra-Singh, Fiji Labour Party election team leader, also suffered a drop from five per cent to three per cent.

In the preferred deputy prime minister stakes, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has leaped from 60 per cent to a whopping 79 per cent. It reflects his impressive performance in and out of Parliament when Mr Bainimarama was away overseas.

SODELPA’s Niko Nawaikula overtakes NFP president Pio Tikoduadua for the second spot at 15 per cent this week from 19 per cent last week. Mr Tikoduadua recorded the biggest drop from 21 per cent to six per cent.

If the election was held tomorrow FijiFirst will romp in with 65 per cent, according to the poll. It’s an increase from 63 per cent.

SODELPA, the closest rival, gets 19 per cent, a jump from 15 per cent. NFP has slipped from 10 per cent last week to six per cent this week.

Not far behind is FLP with five per cent, maintaining that position from last week. Unity Fiji drops from four per cent last week to two per cent this week.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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