The National Electoral Commission (NEC) officially opened nominations for candidates seeking elective positions across different levels on September 3, 2025, with the process set to close on October 16, 2025.
However, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has already raised concern over the growing number of its leaders who have opted to contest as independent candidates despite losing or abstaining from the party primaries.
According to a statement issued by the party’s Secretary General Richard Todwong, several leaders within NRM structures have already been nominated as independents.
Todwong warned that this trend undermines internal cohesion and contradicts established party policy, which strictly prohibits members who lose in primaries from contesting outside the NRM ticket.
“The purpose of this communication is to direct those who have been nominated as independent candidates to resign their positions as party leaders and hand over offices to their vice chairpersons or the respective NRM party chairpersons at that level,” the statement reads in part.
He further emphasized that failure to comply with the directive will attract disciplinary measures, including suspension from all NRM electoral activities.
The decision, Todwong noted, is aimed at safeguarding unity, ensuring smooth coordination of campaign programs, and preventing confusion among supporters during the 2026 general elections.
The NRM constitution and electoral guidelines state that all party members are bound by the outcomes of primaries.
Once primaries are conducted and a flag bearer is declared, all other aspirants are required to rally behind the winner.
Those who proceed to contest as independents are considered to be acting in defiance of party rules.
Historically, the NRM has maintained a tough stance on indiscipline during election cycles.
Independent candidates who emerge from within the party’s ranks are often accused of splitting support, weakening the chances of the official flag bearer, and creating disharmony in mobilization efforts.
Party leaders argue that while individual members are free to exercise their democratic right to contest, doing so after losing in primaries amounts to betrayal of the collective party spirit.
The policy is intended to promote loyalty, discourage factionalism, and strengthen the NRM’s electoral machinery.
As nominations continue, the party has urged those still considering independent candidacy to desist and instead support the official flag bearers.
With elections fast approaching, the NRM leadership insists that unity will be crucial to maintaining its dominance on the political scene.
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That RDC needs to be arrested instead,,,,who doesn’t know that teachers are exercising their constitutional rights,,,,let him go and hang himself,,,,if he feels teachers striking is hurting him