The Opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has rejected MP Nabilah Naggayi’s nomination forms as a major turn down in her attempt to contest for the position of Lord Mayor for Kampala.
The current Kampala woman MP had returned her nomination forms today, 15th July however FDC Electoral Commission chairman, Boniface Bamwenda rejected the forms saying that they had been returned a day after the submission deadline either deliberately or accidentally.
“Fellow citizens, the return of nomination forms for MPs, Mayors, ended on July, 14. That was yesterday. There is no other nomination that is taking place today,” Bamwenda told Nabilah.
Nabilah however insisted that the Lord Mayor seat was not among those whose deadlines were set
With such an unapologetic rejection, it is not clear whether the lawmaker was not informed of the submission deadline, or whether it’s not in the party’s interest that she runs for Lord Mayor on the party ticket, or that she deliberately brought the forms a day after the set deadlines.
Nabilah told journalists at the FDC party headquarters in Najjanankumbi that although FDC chairpersons in all the five divisions of Kampala welcomed her candidature, the leaders at the headquarters tried to make it hard for her to secure the party nomination.
While at the party headquarters, Nabilah was attacked by some members who claimed to be Lukwago’s supporters. They exchanged blows in a scuffle with Nabilah and her supporters while hurling insults at each other.
She also said that the ball is now in the hands of the FDC secretary-general and the party Electoral commission on whether they were interested in having a Lord Mayor from the party. However, Bamwenda combatted this accusation saying her act of returning the forms late must have a hidden agenda. He emphasized that the party won’t violate its constitutional mandate by expecting her forms after the deadline.
Given the circumstances, Nabilah can either opt to stand as an independent candidate or through other political parties, if she is really interested in the position.
