Resign, FDC tells EC
Apr 10, 2006
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has demanded the resignation of the Electoral Commission (EC), saying it had failed in its public duty
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has demanded the resignation of the Electoral Commission (EC), saying it had failed in its public duty, reports Charles Ariko.
Salaamu Musumba, the FDC vice-president, yesterday said following a unanimous ruling of the Supreme Court on April 6 in a petition filed against President Yoweri Museveni and the commission, EC officials no longer had any moral authority to hold offices because they had let down Ugandans.
While dismissing the petition, a coram of seven judges unanimously agreed that the EC failed to comply with the provisions of law during the February 23 presidential elections.
The judges, however, differed on some of the issues that were raised in the petition by giving a final 4-3 majority ruling that the malpractices were not substantial enough to affect the final results.
“The Supreme Court was very clear on the performance of the EC. We call upon the entire commission to resign. They failed in their duties. They flouted the Constitution and electoral laws.
They should do us a favour by resigning before the weekend. They have failed us as FDC and the citizens of this country. They should look for alternative sources of income,†Musumba told a press conference at FDC headquarters in Kampala.
The judges said the commission did not comply with the law when counting and tallying results.
They also ruled that the Electoral Commission failed to check bribery and intimidation in some areas and that in some places, there was multiple voting and ballot stuffing.
Musumba said in the event that the EC officials do not resign on their own free will, then Museveni should retire them in public interest.
Salaamu Musumba, the FDC vice-president, yesterday said following a unanimous ruling of the Supreme Court on April 6 in a petition filed against President Yoweri Museveni and the commission, EC officials no longer had any moral authority to hold offices because they had let down Ugandans.
While dismissing the petition, a coram of seven judges unanimously agreed that the EC failed to comply with the provisions of law during the February 23 presidential elections.
The judges, however, differed on some of the issues that were raised in the petition by giving a final 4-3 majority ruling that the malpractices were not substantial enough to affect the final results.
“The Supreme Court was very clear on the performance of the EC. We call upon the entire commission to resign. They failed in their duties. They flouted the Constitution and electoral laws.
They should do us a favour by resigning before the weekend. They have failed us as FDC and the citizens of this country. They should look for alternative sources of income,†Musumba told a press conference at FDC headquarters in Kampala.
The judges said the commission did not comply with the law when counting and tallying results.
They also ruled that the Electoral Commission failed to check bribery and intimidation in some areas and that in some places, there was multiple voting and ballot stuffing.
Musumba said in the event that the EC officials do not resign on their own free will, then Museveni should retire them in public interest.