Sitiveni Rabuka

The Elections Office has announced the party's main leadership positions have lapsed, and are now vacant.

The former coup leader and prime minister took the Sodelpa party into the 2018 election, and wanted another go in 2022.

But under the party's constitution, the leader must abdicate the position if it loses an election.

On Wednesday, Mr Rabuka called for his position to be advertised so he could apply to become leader again.

Supporters cheered the SODELPA leader, former prime minister and 1987 coup leader Mr Rabuka as he emerged from the Suva Magistrates Court late this morning.

Mr Rabuka was charged by Fiji's Independent Commission Against Corruption under Fiji's political party regulations - for providing a false declaration of his assets, income and liabilities.

If convicted, he would have been out of the running for the 14 November polls.

Sitiveni Rabuka was charged in June by the anti-corruption body, FICAC, for providing a false declaration of assets, income and liabilities.

The former prime minister and coup leader has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr Rabuka's party, SODELPA, says the unforeseen request from FICAC for a further round of interviews has meant he had to call short his week of meetings in Macuata.

It gave no details about what it is FICAC wanted to talk about.

Sitiveni Rabuka's appointment was confirmed during Friday's annual party meeting in Suva.

Mr Rabuka led two coups in 1987 before becoming prime minister in 1992 and holding that role until losing the 1999 election.

He said his first action as leader was to give an official and traditional apology for the injuries of 1987.