Rabuka secures 2026 mandate, calls for unity amid party divisions

Prime Minister and leader of the People’s Alliance Party, Sitiveni Rabuka, has urged members to remain united and continue upholding the party’s mission, vision, and values.

Mr Rabuka made the call after receiving unanimous support to lead the party into the 2026 General Election.

Many supporters travelled early Saturday morning from across the four divisions, as well as from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, to attend the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva.

While thanking members for their vote of confidence, Mr Rabuka reiterated the importance of staying united despite differences.

“I want to remind us who we are. What defines us is our vision, mission, and values,” he said.

“Good leadership brings unity, happiness, progress, and resilience and that is what we need here,” Mr Rabuka added.

“Our mission is to govern the nation and deliver an enabling environment for all citizens of Fiji to live decent, productive, and honourable lives, to respect their human rights and civil liberties, and to strengthen the paramountcy of the rule of law.”

He said the party’s vision should not be limited to simply entering Parliament, but should focus on ensuring that Fiji is governed fairly.

“There were exchanges of angry letters and emails before I came this morning (Saturday), but I want to put all that behind us and welcome everyone in the true spirit of the People’s Alliance,” he said.

“We are here to govern the country and deliver an enabling environment for all citizens of Fiji to live decent, productive, and honourable lives, and to respect their human rights and civil liberties.”

He acknowledged that members may hold different views or make different choices, but encouraged them to always “speak out and use the communication channels within the party.”

Party general secretary Sila Balawa told the media that there was no contention from members during the AGM to have another candidate as their leader.

“In terms of succession, Mr Rabuka invited members of the party, and Members of Parliament to step up and start showing their qualities so he can hand over the position,” Mr Balawa said.

“In many of our meetings, he has always encouraged its members to have the ambition to lead, however along with that was the challenge of showing that they had the quality to be handed the role.”

Mr Rabuka’s speech on maintaining the party’s motto - ‘A Party That Listens’, moved many of his supporters saying that despite the heavy criticisms from the public about the coalition Government, they needed to address those issues as these were voices and concerns of the nation.

“What defines the party is our mission, vision and values. Despite our difference in opinion and choices, we are supposed to have the same confidence.”

Deputy vice-president and Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau welcomed Mr Rabuka’s leadership maintaining their mission which is maintaining good governance in the nation.

“He has indicated in his statement that we need to be united and work together and focus on what’s good for the nation, especially in the governance of the nation and we need to be mindful of that,” Ro Filipe said.

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