The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has unveiled more candidates to vie in the upcoming by-elections.
Speaking during the event on Tuesday, August 5, the DCP Deputy Party Leader, Cleophas Malala, revealed that the party will have candidates in all 22 electoral jurisdictions.
"Today, on behalf of the party leader, I am glad to unveil the following candidates in the following electoral jurisdictions, and I would like to invite them to our party," he stated.
Asserting that there had been an overwhelming turnout of interested candidates, he revealed that some areas had recorded more than one member willing to vie.
Therefore, Malala relayed that the party would be carrying out nominations in such jurisdictions as decided by its National Executive Council (NEC).
"We will have nominations in areas where we have more than one candidate, and we have agreed, and it is the resolve of the national executive council that we are going to have a free and fair nomination," he said.
Previously, only the parliamentary aspirants for the Malava and Banissa constituencies running on the party's ticket had been confirmed and had started their campaign trails.
He therefore flagged as fake speculation that Aden Mohammed, also known as Kiongozi, had withdrawn from the Banissa constituency race, alleging an attempt by the government to compromise DCP candidates.
During the press briefing, Malala also faulted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for delaying setting the dates for elections.
He alleged that the government was trying to delay the elections, as the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is not yet fully prepared.
"We urge the IEBC to lead by its words. The last time they addressed the press, they assured the nation that they are going to give us a date in a week's time. Up to today, IEBC has not given us a date for the byelections," he stated.
"We are aware that the ruling party is trying to push the dates further because they are not ready, because they have done a survey and realised that out of the 22 by-elections, there is none that they can win."
He therefore called on the IEBC not to be intimidated, as it is an independent party and called on the officials of his former party, UDA, to stop the interference.
