Itula's appeal deadline runs out
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Former independent presidential candidate Panduleni Itula has missed a 14-day deadline to appeal his expulsion from Swapo.
On 20 March, the ruling party announced its decision to expel Itula from the party for allegedly working with “counter-revolutionary forces” to destroy and weaken the organisation from within.
This comes after his decision to run as independent presidential candidate against the party's official candidate, Hage Geingob.
The decision to kick him out was made by the politburo and made public by the party's secretary for mobilisation and information, Hilma Nicanor.
No communication
The party's executive director Austin Samupwa said Itula has not communicated with the party since the expulsion letter was served.
When contacted for comment last Thursday, Itula said the Swapo politburo is not an authorised entity and cannot be seen as valid.
“In the absence of validity of a conduct, such action is a nullity and a nullity could not lead to something worth an action for a remedy. In the interest of the public, especially my supporters, it would not benefit Namibia to comment on such invalidity conferring credence,” he told Namibian Sun.
After the general election, in which he garnered 30% of the presidential vote, Itula dragged electoral authorities to court over their use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) without a paper trail, asking for the results to be nullified.
While the Supreme Court found the use of EVMs without a paper trail to be unconstitutional, it upheld the election result. An appeal of this decision is on the cards.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Former independent presidential candidate Panduleni Itula has missed a 14-day deadline to appeal his expulsion from Swapo.
On 20 March, the ruling party announced its decision to expel Itula from the party for allegedly working with “counter-revolutionary forces” to destroy and weaken the organisation from within.
This comes after his decision to run as independent presidential candidate against the party's official candidate, Hage Geingob.
The decision to kick him out was made by the politburo and made public by the party's secretary for mobilisation and information, Hilma Nicanor.
No communication
The party's executive director Austin Samupwa said Itula has not communicated with the party since the expulsion letter was served.
When contacted for comment last Thursday, Itula said the Swapo politburo is not an authorised entity and cannot be seen as valid.
“In the absence of validity of a conduct, such action is a nullity and a nullity could not lead to something worth an action for a remedy. In the interest of the public, especially my supporters, it would not benefit Namibia to comment on such invalidity conferring credence,” he told Namibian Sun.
After the general election, in which he garnered 30% of the presidential vote, Itula dragged electoral authorities to court over their use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) without a paper trail, asking for the results to be nullified.
While the Supreme Court found the use of EVMs without a paper trail to be unconstitutional, it upheld the election result. An appeal of this decision is on the cards.
[email protected]
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