In a statement, Mudavadi said he has instructed UDF party organs that the final list of nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission should not contain his name and that of his running mate Jeremiah Kioni/FILE
In a statement, Mudavadi said he has instructed UDF party organs that the final list of nominees to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission should not contain his name and that of his running mate Jeremiah Kioni.
“It is the presidency and nothing else I am standing for. I don’t fear losing but I assure you we will win,” Mudavadi told UDF officials on Monday.
He said during the compilation of party nomination lists to the IEBC, the party inadvertently included his name and that of Kioni.
He said he declined the nomination “in keeping with his traditional democratic principle that people must choose their leaders.”
He said he had declined such nomination in 2002 after he lost the Sabatia seat and cannot accept another nomination in advance of elections.
Mudavadi exuded confidence when he said: “You must know I do not need any favours in this election. The people are with us in Amani Coalition. Let’s focus on the homestretch now.”
Party officials said this was a decision of the party organs without undue influence from the candidate; and was based on the fact that the law allows such nominations.
They said in the wisdom of Parliament, nominations of presidential candidates and their running mates was retained in law in the spirit of strengthening political parties and also retaining national leaders’ activity within the political landscape.
Mudavadi thanked party organs for the intended honour and recognition.
He said UDF had displayed honesty and transparency in putting his name upfront for public scrutiny unlike other parties which hid intentions to nominate losing presidential candidates through surrogates.
“The list of relatives and associates acting as surrogates to be replaced latter by losing presidential aspirants is amazing,” he said.
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