Last month,Bainimarama was suspended from parliament for three years after an inflammatory speech.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday,Bainimarama said the punishment meant it was best for him to depart.
“Whatever you or I may think of the decision,you and I will need to bear with it and respond in a positive and strategic manner,” he said.
“Given the need to maintain our numbers in parliament over the next three years,and the need for FijiFirst to be on the ground at all times ... I have tendered my resignation from parliament,with immediate effect.”
Bainimarama seized power in the Pacific nation through a coup 2006. He created the FijiFirst party which won elections in 2014 and 2018.
However,FijiFirst fell short of a majority in the general election in December.