ECN denies siding with Kavekotora amid RDP dispute
Electoral body refutes allegations
The ECN has underlined that it does not interfere with or become involved in the internal affairs of political parties.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has refuted allegations by the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) that they assisted former parliamentarian Mike Kavekotora in taking charge of the party.
Responding to questions from this publication about the matter, ECN spokesperson De We Siluka said: “ECN is not siding with Kavekotora. In our view, he was duly nominated as the presidential candidate of the RDP in 2019 by the party’s authorised representative, in conformity with the provisions of the Electoral Act 5 of 2014, as amended.”
The RDP recently filed criminal charges against Kavekotora, alleging “the false representation of RDP with intent to commit fraud.”
Responding to this, Kavekotora said: “Kandy Nehova, who claims to be RDP’s president, and Amanda Titus, who has never been a part of RDP leadership, have no mandate to speak on behalf of the party.”
On the record
Meanwhile, Siluka said no relationship exists between ECN and Kavekotora. He said the only connection is their records, which list Kavekotora as the president of RDP, “a political party duly registered in terms of Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 5 of 2014, as amended."
Siluka added that it is important to note that the ECN does not deal with factions within political parties.
"Should such factions arise within a party, the best course of action will be for the contesting faction to seek redress from the Electoral Court to provide clarity. The ECN does not interfere in the internal affairs of any political party.”
Responding to questions from this publication about the matter, ECN spokesperson De We Siluka said: “ECN is not siding with Kavekotora. In our view, he was duly nominated as the presidential candidate of the RDP in 2019 by the party’s authorised representative, in conformity with the provisions of the Electoral Act 5 of 2014, as amended.”
The RDP recently filed criminal charges against Kavekotora, alleging “the false representation of RDP with intent to commit fraud.”
Responding to this, Kavekotora said: “Kandy Nehova, who claims to be RDP’s president, and Amanda Titus, who has never been a part of RDP leadership, have no mandate to speak on behalf of the party.”
On the record
Meanwhile, Siluka said no relationship exists between ECN and Kavekotora. He said the only connection is their records, which list Kavekotora as the president of RDP, “a political party duly registered in terms of Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 5 of 2014, as amended."
Siluka added that it is important to note that the ECN does not deal with factions within political parties.
"Should such factions arise within a party, the best course of action will be for the contesting faction to seek redress from the Electoral Court to provide clarity. The ECN does not interfere in the internal affairs of any political party.”
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