Sudan’s ruling party due to select presidential candidate this month

October 5, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) will select its presidential candidate during the general convention which will take place on October 20-25 with the participation of more than 100 foreign political parties.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir repeated previously that he would not seek his re-election and urged the party to select a new candidate. However, several NCP officials objected his decision stressing that he is their sole candidate.

Bashir, who suffers from health problems, underwent two knee replacement surgeries and a throat surgery in the last two years. He also faces an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2009.

The state minister at the ministry of information, Yasser Youssef, said in statements to the official news agency (SUNA) that all NCP’s regional, sector and central conventions have been concluded adding that meetings of the leadership office and Shura (consultative) council will convene before the general convention.

He noted that the general convention will elect a new Shura council besides selecting the NCP presidential candidate for the April 2015 elections.

Youssef added that the convention will discuss several working papers including political reform, economy, foreign relations and NCP’s internal issues.

Meanwhile, the NCP deputy chairman and presidential assistant, Ibrahim Ghandour, said that he attended 18 NCP conventions in various states, stressing that the country is entering a new phase in light of the democratic way in which these conventions were held.

He noted that the main message communicated through these conventions is that the upcoming elections will be held on time.

Sudan’s general elections are set to be held next April but opposition parties threatened to boycott it saying the NCP holds absolute control over power and refuses to make any compromise to end the civil war and allow public liberties.

But the NCP insists on holding them, saying it is a constitutional requirement that must be met.

Ghandour said the nomination and selection of the states governors is an internal issue that will be decided after the NCP’s general convention, adding that the party leadership will meet the 5 nominees from each state to discuss the future plan for the party and the country.

The NCP official said that small committees will be set up to look into governors’ nominations, underscoring that the final selection will be decided by the NCP leadership office and some other experts.

(ST)