The Electoral Commission has declined to receive nomination forms submitted by the National Peasants Party (NPP) for its presidential flagbearer Robert Kasibante, citing irregularities in the supporting signatures.
According to the Commission, several sections of the forms bore identical handwriting across multiple voter columns, raising doubts about the authenticity of endorsements.
“The law requires that each voter signs or appends a thumbprint individually to endorse a candidate,” an EC official explained.
“Where we observe uniform handwriting on behalf of many voters, such submissions cannot be accepted.”
But the NPP has rejected the Commission’s position. Party spokesperson Thomas Bagonza accused the EC of acting in bad faith and warned that they were ready to pursue legal action if the decision is not overturned.
“We submitted our forms in good faith, and the Commission has no grounds to deny our candidate a chance to contest,” Bagonza said.
“If they insist on this decision, we are prepared to take them to court.”
The rejection has heightened frustration among smaller political parties, many of whom accuse the EC of erecting hurdles that prevent their candidates from successfully qualifying for nomination.
Political analysts argue that the dispute could become a test case for how strictly electoral laws are enforced ahead of the 2026 nomination period, and whether aggrieved parties will turn to the courts as an avenue for redress.
The Commission is yet to issue a detailed statement addressing NPP’s threat of legal action.
