National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says all NFP Members of Parliament have been directed to vote against the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 32 of 2026 at its third reading next week.

In a press conference this morning,Professor Prasad says the party’s management board, endorsed by its working committee, issued the directive yesterday.

He says he has written to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka urging the People’s Alliance Party to withdraw the Bill from Parliament’s consideration on Monday, 2nd November, and allow the constitutional reform process to continue after the next general election.

Prof. Prasad says the NFP remains committed to constitutional reform but believes the current process is being rushed, leaving insufficient time for Fijians to understand the proposed changes.

He says the draft Constitution has not been translated into vernacular languages, while public consultations have provided limited opportunities for participants to ask questions and clarify information.

He warns that pushing through constitutional reform without sufficient public participation and political consensus could undermine the legitimacy of a new Constitution.

He says the party is not opposed to reform but believes the next Parliament should be given at least another six months to scrutinise the Bill, build consensus and prepare for a referendum.

The NFP will no longer participate in the Special Parliamentary Committee examining the Bill and that he will not sign the committee’s report to Parliament.

He maintains that constitutional legitimacy must not be sacrificed for political expediency, adding that the process should produce a Constitution made with the people rather than one perceived to have been imposed on them.

Under Section 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, if a Member of Parliament casts a vote or abstains from voting contrary to any directive of the political party for which they stood as a candidate, their parliamentary seat becomes vacant.

Prof. Prasad is reassured that the NFP members in parliament will follow the Party directive.