Backbencher Set To Lead SODELPA In 2026 General Election

Backbencher Aseri Radrodro is likely to lead the Social Democratic Liberal Party to the 2026 gen­eral elections.

He will be endorsed at next Saturday's SODELPA an­nual general meeting (AGM).

Last month the party advertised the role through the Pacific People Recruitment agency.

Only three applications were received.

Last week, Mr Radrodro was appointed as the dep­uty chairman of the International Democracy Union (IDU) in New Zealand.

In January he was dismissed as a Minister for Education for "insubordination and disobedience" after he ignored legal advice in terminating mem­bers of the Fiji National University council.

He was replaced as Minister of Education by SODELPA leader Viliame Gavoka.

Mr Radrodro is the lone backbencher n Parliament.

Before his dismissal, he was at the centre of an alleged sex scandal with Minister for Women, Lynda Tabuya.

Widely known as a loyal party man, Mr Radrodro has eight years of experience as a member of opposition and one year as a member of cabinet.

On Friday, the SODELPA Management Board selected Mr Radrodro whom they deemed suitable to become the next leader. He was also present at the Southern Cross Hotel meeting.

Twenty-nine members of the Management Board attended the meeting.

At next week's AGM, a deputy party leader will also be endorsed.

It is understood that Ofakiloloma Swann, also known as Ofa Duncan will be nominat­ed. She had also applied for the Party leader position.

Ms Swann is a Fijian lawyer, academic, former politician, and psychologist.

She served in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2006.

In February 2023, she was appointed to the council of Fiji National University.

Ofakilomaloma Swann

The SODELPA AGM is scheduled to take place next Saturday at 10am at the Suva Civ­ic Centre.

According to the SODELPA constitution section 16.1:

(a) the party leader is appointed by the Management Board through a competitive, transparent, nationally recognised selection process, before the second meeting of the General Assembly following the last General Election or at such a time that the Manage­ment Board feels that the party should be preparing for the next General Election.

(c) the party leader may not necessarily be the parliamentary leader or vice versa.

Meanwhile, SODELPA Youth Council Act­ing President Koroi Tikoilomaloma has re­signed from the party.

Mr Tikoilomaloma cannot continue in the position due to the nature of his employment as a legal practitioner.

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