Lynda Tabuya will keep her seat in Parliament and remain a member of the People’s Alliance after the party concluded its inquiry into an explicit video of her that circulated online last Christmas Eve.
In a statement, the party said its internal disciplinary process found that Tabuya did not intentionally release the video or seek to bring the party into disrepute.
The statement acknowledged Tabuya’s contributions as a minister and her long-standing service to the party and the public, adding that the decision was made in the spirit of “forgiveness, reconciliation, and second chances.”
However, it highlighted that public figures including executive members of the party must take extra care to avoid such incidents, as their private lives are subject to public scrutiny.
Tabuya has maintained that the video’s distribution was a deliberate attempt to discredit her and the party. She has reported the matter to the police, describing it as a cybercrime and a gross invasion of privacy. She has also apologised to the party and its members and pledged to prevent similar incidents in the future.
While she retains her position as an MP, her demotion to the backbenches remains unchanged. The party reiterated that cabinet appointments are the sole prerogative of the Prime Minister.
