January 4, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s National Election Commission (NEC) has announced terms and procedures for nomination for the presidency and national proportional representation constituencies in the upcoming elections.

A Sudanese National Elections Commission staff empties a ballot box at the start of vote counting at a polling station in Juba, south Sudan April 16, 2010 (Reuters)

The NEC said in a statement on Sunday that nomination procedures will take place between 11 and 17 January, 2015 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm including holidays.

It added that names of presidential nominees along with women and political parties’ lists of nominees will be placed in the ballot paper according to the primacy of completing nomination procedures.

It called on the political parties’ delegates and nominees to complete the required documents including citizenship certificate, birth certificate, certificate of academic qualification, certificate of nomination acceptance (form 10) and certificate of personal property (form 11).

It also demanded that delegates show a proof of payment of a security deposit (form 12) for the nominee.

The NEC also stipulated that presidential nominees should submit a list including 15,000 voters’ names from 12 states who endorse their nomination provided the names must not be less than 200 in each state.

The statement added that political parties should make nominations for all proportional representation seats including 128 woman nominees and 85 political parties’ nominees besides providing the same number as reserve nominees.

It pointed that only authorized parties’ delegates and at most two other people are allowed to be present at the nomination site.

The NEC also said it formed three committees to review and receive nomination forms of presidential nominees and woman and political parties’ lists of nominees.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s vice president, Hassabo Mohamed Abdel-Rahman, has emphasized that elections will be held in April, saying it won’t be delayed in order to avoid any constitutional vacuum.

He described those who call for postponement of elections as “un-objective”, saying that election is a constitutional requirement.

Last October, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) general convention selected the incumbent president Omer Hassan al-Bashir as the party’s candidate for the 2015 elections.

Last month, the NCP said it has completed Bashir’s electoral programme for the upcoming elections stressing that it will focus on provision of services.

Sudan’s general elections are set to be held in April 2015, but opposition parties are refusing to participate saying the NCP holds absolute control over power and refuse to make any compromise to end the civil war and allow public liberties.

They have proposed forming a transitional government and holding a national conference with the participation of rebel groups to discuss a peaceful solution for the conflicts in Darfur region, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states.

The interim government, in accordance with the opposition platform, would organise general elections once a political agreement on constitutional matters is reached, inaugurating a new democratic regime.

The NCP rejects this proposal saying opposition parties must simply prepare for the 2015 elections and that rebels should sign first peace accords before to join the political process.

(ST)