Foroyaa is aware of five opposition presidential candidates who have made their candidature public. The PDOIS held a convention on 19 March 2016 to declare Halifa Sallah its presidential candidate. The NCP followed and declared Dr Lamin Bojang as its presidential candidate on 18 June 2016. The GDC also declared Mama Kandeh as its presidential candidate on 25 May 2016. The UDP also declared Adama Barrow as its presidential candidate on 1 September 2016. Dr Isatou Touray was also declared a presidential candidate on 2 September 2016. If the NRP declares its presidential candidate the opposition would have six presidential candidates.
The electorates who want change are calling for discussion among the opposition to come up with one candidate. So far PDOIS has proposed a primary where the five thousand nominators required by the constitution for a presidential candidate would be combined and asked to vote for one presidential candidate to stand as flag bearer. The UDP has as its first option the endorsement of its candidate on the basis that it is the major opposition party. The NCP has not proposed a method of selecting one candidate but would want a transition of three months for any flag bearer. The GDC has not proposed how to select a presidential candidate. Dr Isatou Touray proposes for opposition parties to endorse her candidature. No party has announced that there is any shift in their position at the moment.
The electorate expects that negotiation will unfold between the different presidential candidates and parties which selected them in due course. This is how matters stand.
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
ARE THE PEOPLE FULLY INFORMED OF THE NEGOTIATING POSITIONS OF ALL THE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN THE COUNTRY ON COALITION BUILDING? Foroyaa Editorial: September 8, 2016 QUESTION OF THE DAY
ARE THE PEOPLE FULLY INFORMED OF THE NEGOTIATING POSITIONS OF ALL THE OPPOSITION PARTIES IN THE COUNTRY ON COALITION BUILDING?
In order to avoid the mistakes of the past the public needs to be informed of the position of each party or independent candidate on coalition building.
At the moment the independent candidate has stated her position. She has called on all political parties to endorse her as an independent candidate. None of the parties has so far declared such endorsement.
The UDP has issued a press release proposing for all parties to endorse their candidate. Their second option is for the opposition parties to select delegates who would select one person from civil society to be flagbearer. In the absence of these two options they will go it alone.
The PDOIS has proposed the selection of a presidential candidate by the people through a primary. It calls for each presidential candidate to have 5000 nominators as required by the constitution to stand as a presidential candidate and compile them into a list. All these nominators would select one of the presidential candidates to be flagbearer and stand as an independent candidate after selection even if he/she was selected by a party to contest.
The GPDP has expressed support for a primary but would not oppose the reduction of the number of voters who would participate in the primary for each candidate.
The GDC promised to make its proposal public as soon as possible.
The PPP promised to make its pronouncement by mid- September.
The NRP promised to reveal its proposal at an inter-party meeting.
The GMC is yet to make a proposal.
These positions are likely to shift in these coming days and weeks as consultations between parties and independent candidates unfold.
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
DOES THE OPPOSITION HAVE ONE CANDIDATE?
Posted - 07 Sep 2016 : 21:44:47
