Sudan electoral board extends nominations deadline

January 20, 2010 (KHARTOUM) –The Sudanese National Elections Commission (NEC) today extended the deadline for nominations after requests made by several parties who argued that they not have sufficient time to complete the paperwork.

The Sudanese official news agency (SUNA) quoted Jalal Mohamed Ahmed Al-Amin, the secretary general of the NEC as saying that the nomination period for will end on Wednesday, January 27 at six pm.

Originally the nomination was set to expire on Friday.

The NEC deputy chairman, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, said the decision has been taken for many reasons among which the demand made by different political parties to extend the nomination period to meet requirements of nomination.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) headed by Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani and other political formations complained to the commission about the short time given to collect the signatures needed for registration while others say they received the nomination forms late.

Elections will be held around the country on April 11 to elect the president, governors and legislators on the national and regional levels. A presidential candidate, to be nominated, has to collect 15,000 signatures from 18 states with a minimum of 200 in each, as stipulated by the NEC.

“They wanted 15,000 signatures (for a candidate) to be nominated and that from 18 states with a minimum of 200 in each state,” Abdel Aziz Khaled, a presidential candidate told Reuters on Wednesday.

The head of Sudan Alliance Forces (SAF) said he had met the requirements but that after decades of north-south war it would be difficult for many independent, mid-level or new political parties to garner support in both the north and south within the original tight timeframe.

“They are making it difficult because [President Omar Hassan] al-Bashir doesn’t want many candidates to run because this will divide the vote and affect him in the first round to not get 50 plus percent,” Khaled said.

If no presidential candidate gets 51 percent, it will force a second round between the two leading candidates.

The major presidential nominees so far include Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) deputy secretary general for northern sector Yasir Arman, Popular Congress Party (PCP) deputy leader Abdulla Deng Nhial as well as Umma Reform and Renewal Party (URRP) leader Mubarak Al-Fadil.

The DUP and Umma Party have not decided on their presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, Representatives of slum dwellers, who have little access to information and no electricity or running water, told Reuters that ruling NCP officials were using threats and bribery and also telling people the SPLM was supporting the NCP so they should vote for Bashir.

“This will not be a way for a free and fair election,” said SPLM spokeswoman Keji Roman. “They are offering money or even threatening them…this is what makes it illegal and immoral.”

The NCP has routinely dismissed the allegations for fraud and directed similar accused at the SPLM.

(ST)