Sudan’s polls to begin in April 2014
August 6, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese general elections will begin on 2 April 2015, announced the national electoral body on Wednesday, as the government continues to ignore opposition calls to postpone the vote and form a transitional government.
In a press conference held in Khartoum on Wednesday, the chief of the National Election Commission (NEC) Mukhtar al-Asam, announced the electoral process will start on 28 October 2014 with opening of registration offices for the electors, while the candidates can submit their applications beginning from 31 December during a week.
He further said that voters will cast ballots on 2 April, and the counting operation will start on the same day.
Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir rejected a call by the opposition parties participating in the national dialogue process to delay the elections.
Officials in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) alluded last week to the possible formation of a broad-based government to implement a national program agreed by the dialogue parties.
Commenting on the announcement of the electoral calendar, the secretary general of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Sara Nugdallah, reiterated they are not concerned by this vote, adding it will be a “remake” of 2010 election boycotted by its party.
Nugdallah further announced that its party resumed its activities within the opposition umbrella of the National Consensus Forces (NCF), 10 months after suspending its membership in the coalition.
(ST)