Sudan’s Turabi threatens tougher stance over ‘fraudulent’ elections
April 17, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Islamist opposition leader Hassan Al-Turabi expressed fury over what he described as “fraudulent” elections and vowed to escalate his resistance against the poll results in coordination with other parties.
The official results of the elections are not due until next Tuesday though the parties’ monitors at the polling stations got early indications of how they fared at Sudan’s multi-party elections since 1986.
Most major Northern opposition parties including the Umma Party, Sudan Communist Party, Umma Reform and Renewal Party (URRP) boycotted the elections days before they were due to start saying the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has made it impossible for the process to be held in a free and fair manner.
The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM),the junior partner in the government of national unity (GoNU), also declined to participate in the elections in the North with limited exceptions for the same reasons.
Owing to this it became all but certain that the NCP leader and incumbent president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir will overwhelmingly win a new term in office.
By contrast, the legislative and gubernatorial elections in the North were expected to witness a stiff competition between parties some of which are relying on a religious followers base such as the Unionist Party (DUP) whose leader Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani is also the head of the Al-Khatmiya religious sect.
But the DUP and the Popular Congress Party (PCP) appeared to acknowledge that they have failed to make any gains according to the preliminary results.
“Everything is totally corrupt. We are fed up and we will never recognize these elections,” the DUP’s Salah al-Basha told Reuters yesterday.
Prior to the vote, Al-Basha said the party was sure to win the governorships of at least six states. Friday he said it looked to have won none.
Hatim al-Sir, the DUP candidate who ran against Bashir in the presidential race, said he would not recognize the results.
“I reject the results of the elections and I will not recognize them,” he said. “The result does not reflect real participation.”
The PCP leader Al-Turabi appearing visibly angry at a press conference today that his party will refuse to recognize the results even if they are shown to win in some constituencies and accused the National Elections Commission (NEC) of poorly managing the polls.
“The voting and the counting process are fraudulent. We will take the matter to court and if the judges does not rule in our favor, we may have to use other alternatives than the ballot boxes,” said Turabi at the PCP headquarters in the Riyadh district of the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
“We are still gathering information in several regions of the country before talking with our local officials and other parties,” he added.
Turabi said that the NCP has control over the media and other state resources that were used for the benefit of their candidates in an “indifferent” attitude to the limited capacity of their contestants noting that despite that the PCP has determined to run in the elections dissenting from other opposition parties which decided to boycott.
Furthermore, he claimed that NCP officials informed him beforehand of their intention to rig the elections.
He said that election results so far shows “illogical” variance between the gains of the NCP and its rivals and pointed out that Article (76) of the Electoral Act stipulates that vote counting should be commenced immediately after the polls close and continue without interruption but this is not taking place.
The PCP leader also brushed aside an offer by the NCP this week to join the future government.
Al-Turabi was a former ally of Al-Bashir and at the time considered the government’s ideological mastermind in the 1990s and the De-facto ruler.
However in 1999, Al-Turabi who was the parliament speaker fell out with Bashir and jailed on accusations of conspiracy. He was released in October 2003. He was detained last year for calling on the Sudanese president to surrender himself to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which issued an arrest warrant for him.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
Sudan’s Turabi threatens tougher stance over ‘fraudulent’ elections
Who is sure that Bashier will give referendum free to South Sudan?
Poor Southerners might think that Bashier will give them free food but it means lot of sweat. This criminal Bashier is now free because SPLM decide wrong and fool idea to withdraw Arman in the race. Arman could have disabled Bashier in the elction.
The only solution to these Nothern opposition parties is this, you have to throw him out of power so that ICC can take him.
Gatwech
Sudan’s Turabi threatens tougher stance over ‘fraudulent’ elections
Ya Turabi, who did you expect to vote for your party or its puppy islamic jihadist candidate from Bor town calling himself Abdullah Deng Nhial?
Shut up!
yazB
Sudan’s Turabi threatens tougher stance over ‘fraudulent’ elections
Was it not you Mr. Turabi who said ‘in politics, the aim justifies the means’? A taste of your own medicine at best! But i have a feeling it’s all a theatrical show afterall it’s two sides of the coin (NCP-PCP) just like when he came into power in 1989, he went to prison along with the rounded politicians by his army junta at the time to dicert attention from him!
When the rule of law is restored we will try you along with your Junta for overthrowing the demograticaly elected goverment!
Dinka Boy
Sudan’s Turabi threatens tougher stance over ‘fraudulent’ elections
Hey Gatwech,
Who told you to talk aboout CPA? You don,t know CPA and brought it to be present. Are you froget that you Nuer went to khartoum governmnet in 1991 and join the Bashier regime against SPLM. I must be proud of SPLM and the greatest works that they did when you Nuer are away for about 10 years supporting Khartoum gov,t.
We all know that the late commer is always anoise maker. And the one one who talk much when the food is ready. We fought for this CPA.
Haaaaa, you called me a Notherner. If you don,t know then iam the one who rule you for decades and the core of SPLM origin.
I was trained in 1989 in Bunga as ared Army of General Majak Agot and I fought in Kapoeta, Bilnyang, Juba,and in Nuer land when your likes defect from SPLM. Shup up! we know who you are- you are food lovers.
How about if we all join Khartoum government in 1991, would you talk about CPA? Please i know you are one who talk loud when the food is ready to be serve and the one who join enemy when the situation is taugh and bitter like malaria quin. Please you are little baby born in 1990s and you know nothing about SPLM. Who are you to make noise at this smooth time? Shit!