Opposition to Challenge Increase in Nomination Fees

The Opposition has indicated it is set to challenge the government’s proposal to increase the nomination fee from K1000 to K10, 000 if this bill is passed in parliament.

Opposition Leader, Don Polye said they would take the matter to the Supreme Court if the government uses its numerical strength to bulldoze the bill through in Parliament.

Given that K400 million was allocated for the General Elections in the 2017 Budget, he questions why the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is proposing what he described as ‘unconstitutional and draconian law to cripple a certain group of people.’

“We will challenge this matter in court if passed in Parliament.

“The Ombudsman Commission took a similar matter to the court when a past government then legislated to increase the nomination fee from K100 to K1000,” he said.

He said the proposal would deny the rights of citizens to contest the election next year, adding it will limit majority of aspiring candidates to contest the 111 seats in the country.

Polye has further questioned O’Neill’s justification that the increase is to offset a lack of funding for the Electoral Commission, saying it was a laughing stock.

 

 

Author: 
Press release