DESPITE openly lying about its involvement in the second motion of no confidence, irrefutable evidence has emerged that the People First Party (PFP) – a partner in the GNUT coalition – has engineered the move from day one.
Its target – is four-times Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare whose high-flying job has ended abruptly in what some described as the ‘Great Betrayal.’
PFP’s denial was contained in a 12-point statement published by Robert Iroga’s online publication last week. In it, the PFP claimed the two previous motions of no confidence were “instigated by others” – a white lie, which the PFP pedalled with impunity.
Insiders described the statement as “bulls crap politics”.
“They were the instigators of the 1st and 2nd attempts to topple Manele. It’s an open secret,” the insiders told Solomon Star.
“You must have hit a raw nerve with PFP’s deceptive strategy,” the insider added.
In its statement, the PFP declared:
“We have stood by and fully supported (and will continue to do so) Prime Minister Manele and GNUT on two (2) previous motions of no confidence that were instigated by others.
“We are the most stable political party within the current coalition, with 11 MPs, 10 of whom are GNUT Ministers. As a testimony to our party’s solidarity, in the two (2) recent motions, none of our MPs and government ministers have formally left the party.
“The Party, therefore, disassociates itself from any connections with politicians and individuals who are interested in causing political instability in the country,” it said.
Evidence showed otherwise. Here is how the PFP Orchestrated Sogavare’s Fall from Grace.
In a stunning political reversal that has shaken the foundations of Solomon Islands politics, four-time Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, the founder of OUR Party, finds himself politically isolated for the first time in his three-decade career.
The architect of his humiliation? The once-minority People’s First Party (PFP), which executed a masterful deception that lured the veteran leader into resigning from the governing coalition only to abandon him in the opposition wilderness.
Sogavare’s Unprecedented Gamble
On April 30, 2025, Sogavare made what appeared to be a bold power play. For instance, believing the PFP was serious and genuine about changing the government, Sogavare:
- Led 10 MPs in resigning from the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) coalition, including Cabinet heavyweights
- Publicly declared confidence in forming a new coalition with opposition figures Matthew Wale and Peter Kenilorea Jr;
- Filed no-confidence motion against his own protégé, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, expecting swift victory
Sogavare’s move echoed his past successful power grabs during crises in 2000 and 2006. Yet this time, the PFP had laid an elaborate trap, exploiting the veteran leader’s legendary distrust of allies and hunger for control.
Despite its denial of any involvement in the second no confidence motion the PFP’s Deceptive Manoeuvring behind the scenes the truth has now exposed the lies. PFP leader Frederick Kologeto orchestrated and executed a brilliant double-game. For instance, he:
1. Feigned Discontent: PFP ministers publicly echoed Sogavare’s criticisms of Manele’s leadership while quietly solidifying ties with the Prime Minister’s office;
2. The False Promise: Kologeto personally assured Sogavare of PFP’s support for his new coalition, citing dissatisfaction with development fund allocations and Manele’s “soft stance” on China relations; and,
3. Strategic Timing is another: PFP allegedly encouraged the mass ministerial resignations, timing it to coincide with provincial unrest, creating artificial urgency that prevented Sogavare from verifying support claims.
The rest is history.
The Sting: Abandonment and Isolation
When Parliament reconvened, the PFP’s betrayal became brutally clear and irreversible. Sogavare who represented East Choiseul since 1997 was caught.
- No Coalition Shift: As part of the deception, PFP members remained seated with the GNUT government during the no-confidence debate;
- Kologeto’s Public Endorsement: The PFP leader delivered a blistering speech praising Manele’s “steady leadership” and condemning “reckless political gambling”
Mathematical Isolation: Sogavare’s faction secured only 17 votes for their no-confidence motion, leaving him stranded without the promised support from the PFP bloc.
*Table: Sogavare’s Political Timeline Before the Fall*
| **Year** | **Political Position** | **Key Achievement/Setback** |
|———-|————————|——————————|
| 2000 | Became PM | Installed after coup in June 2000|
| 2006-2007 | PM Second Term | Survived no-confidence vote; expelled Australian envoy |
| 2014-2017 | PM Third Term | Cultivated ties with Australia initially |
| 2019-2024 | PM Fourth Term | Switched recognition to China; survived 2021 riots |
| April 2024 | Finance Minister | Stepped aside for Manele after election setback |
| April 2025 | Opposition Backbencher | Isolated after PFP betrayal |
Anatomy of a Political Murder
Three strategic elements made PFP’s deception successful:
1. Exploiting Sogavare’s Weaknesses and vulnerability:
The PFP leveraged Sogavare’s well-documented distrust of successors and autocratic tendencies. By feeding his suspicions about Manele’s independence, they triggered his characteristic pre-emptive strike instinct.
2. Capitalizing on Electoral Shifts:
With PFP holding kingmaker status in GNUT’s fragile 26-seat majority, they inflated their perceived value to both factions. Sogavare overlooked the fact that PFP’s 3-seat alone couldn’t deliver victory.
3. The Ultimate Humiliation:
For the first time since his 1997 election, Sogavare sits as a **backbench** without ministerial portfolio or opposition leadership. His former PFP allies now openly mock his “political senility” in private briefings.
Historical Echoes of Irony
The betrayal carries profound historical resonance:
- Reversed Roles: Sogavare, who ousted Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa’alu in 1998 through similar defection tactics, now falls victim to identical methods;
- Damaged Legacy: The leader who survived four no-confidence votes and riots now appears on political obituaries, his real estate holdings symbolizing corruption to a disillusioned public; and,
- Geopolitical Consequences: China’s closest ally now watches as PFP pushes Manele toward “quiet recalibration” of security ties with Australia
The Aftermath: A Broken King
Sogavare’s current reality underscores his humiliation:
- Physical Isolation: Works from a makeshift office in Honiara’s dilapidated Chinatown, far from parliamentary power centers
- Financial Investigations: Anti-corruption probes into his mysterious real estate portfolio have gained new momentum
- Psychological Blow: Associates report uncharacteristic withdrawal, with the 70-year-old skipping customary weekend rugby matches
“They made me a clown in my own circus,” Sogavare reportedly told a confidant after the vote. This poignant admission captures the magnitude of his downfall at PFP’s hands.
The New Power Calculus
PFP’s surgical strike has reshaped Solomon Islands politics, in that it has cemented the Kingmaker status resulting in;
- Kologeto now occupying the deputy premiership and controlling key development funds;
- Coalition Discipline: The betrayal serves as a warning to other GNUT partners against defection dreams; and,
- Opposition Fragmentation: Sogavare’s presence prevents unity between Wale and Kenilorea factions
As one Honiara political analyst noted: “The PFP didn’t just defeat Sogavare—they weaponized his own arrogance to destroy him. It’s the most brutal takedown in Solomon Islands political history”.
The streets of Honiara — potholed and tense — now witness an unthinkable sight: the master tactician who dominated politics for a generation, out-maneuvered by a raw and vastly inexperienced first timer politician. Sogavare now sits alone.
The PFP’s deception proves that in Solomon Islands, even nine lives can run out.
Sogavare’s final humiliation serves both as personal tragedy and stark lesson in the unforgiving arithmetic of numerical power.
By Alfred Sasako
Manasseh Sogavare – the fallen leader through deception
