Continued demands from the National Federation Party for a common franchise threatened to stall negotiations leading to independence.
In Nadi, the National Federation Party retained power, but decided to replace its Mayor.
The Alliance was also helped by the continuing disarray in the ranks of the National Federation Party.
As the winner of the election, the National Federation Party should have formed the government.
Others, however, believe that the Governor-General did what he had to do, as the National Federation Party was incapable of forming a coherent government.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1972 as a candidate for the National Federation Party.
In 1987 he was chosen as the leader of the National Federation Party.
The National Federation Party had been opposing plans for independence without significant changes to the constitution.
The National Federation Party also condemned the President's actions.
The name was later changed to National Federation Party with the inclusion of two minor ethnic Fijian parties.