Tanzanian presidential hopeful Tundu Lissu has protested over what he termed as widespread irregularities and organized sabotage of the opposition candidates on the nomination day.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday afternoon, Lissu decried irregular scrutiny of opposition candidates’ nomination forms by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
He said that NEC had informed them that the exercise would take fifteen minutes but later subjected them to hours of irregular scrutiny of their papers while clearing President John Pombe Magufuli within minutes.
The former Singida East lawmaker said that he was at the electoral commission headquarters in Dodoma at 5:45am but had not been cleared by 1pm.
‘’NEC can’t be serious, they informed us in writing, that the nomination process would take only 15 minutes each for all candidates, they quickly passed and cleared John Magufuli of CCM, the rest of us, Magufuli’s challengers have been waiting for our turn since late morning,’’ the politician tweeted.
NEC can't be serious! They informed us, in writing, that the nomination process would take only 15 minutes each for all candidates. They quickly passed John Pombe Magufuli, the CCM candidate. The rest of us, Magufuli's opponents, have been waiting for our turn since late morning!
— Tundu Antiphas Lissu (@TunduALissu) August 25, 2020
He claimed that opposition candidates were violently attacked and robbed of their nomination papers by “armed Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) thugs” before they could submit them to their respective Returning Officers.
Read: Tanzanian Presidential Hopeful Tundu Lissu’s Convoy Attacked In Arusha As Police Looked On
According to Lissu, seven others were arrested before submitting their forms.
“Widespread irregularities and organized sabotage of the opposition candidates. 7 of our candidates have been unlawfully arrested by the police when submitting their nomination forms to their respective Returning Officers. They’re thus unable to present their nomination papers, ” he said.
Widespread irregularities and organized sabotage of the opposition candidates on nomination day. 8 of our candidates have been violently attacked and robbed of their nomination papers by gangs of armed CCM thugs before submitting them to their respective Returning Officers.
— Tundu Antiphas Lissu (@TunduALissu) August 25, 2020
Widespread irregularities and organized sabotage of the opposition candidates. 7 of our candidates have been unlawfully arrested by the police when submitting their nomination forms to their respective Returning Officers. They're thus unable to present their nomination papers.
— Tundu Antiphas Lissu (@TunduALissu) August 25, 2020
Magufuli, who has been accused of frustrating opposition leaders in Tanzania is seeking re-election after serving as President of Tanzania since 2015.
Read Also: Tanzania’s Opposition Party Offices “Firebombed” Ahead Of Presidential Hopeful Tundu Lissu’s Visit
He returned nomination forms in Dodoma at around 8:40am in the company of his running mate, Ms Hassan and other party leaders including the party’s Secretary-General Dr Bashiru Ally.
NEC chairman Judge Semistocles Kaijage declared that the forms had been duly filled and had met all the requirements set by the electoral body.
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