‘Scientific primaries’: NRM in dilemma, refers matter to CEC

By Nathan Ngobi

Sometime last year the National Resistance Movement (NRM) decided to hold party primaries using the ‘lining-up’ system, in a bid to stem discontent of members arising out of election malpractices.

However, since the announcement of the deadly Corona virus in March this year, so many things have changed and been affected, prompting a revision of strategies, notable among them the declaration of ‘scientific’ 2021 general elections by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Indeed, so prickly is the issue that it has also affected the ruling NRM, which had opted for the queue system of voting for its flag bearers.

Now, it is this dilemma that has forced the party’s EC to stay its internal electoral roadmap, a process that was supposed to begin on Wednesday July 24, pending a decision by the Central Executive Committee meeting that is scheduled for Saturday, July 27.

The change in strategy was announced by NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba, with the party EC boss Dr. Tanga Odi also weighing in.

“Friends and relatives and all as NRM EC, we are yet to release an approved election roadmap and no one should confuse you with the working draft5. The burden and puzzle we are faced with is our new paradigm of lining up behind candidates amidst this coronavirus threat, CEC meets again on Saturday to hear the final decision after thorough discussion  between our commission, the scientists and party lawyers,” Dr. Tanga Odoi wrote on his handle.

“In the circumstances, all intending candidates are advised to wait for the final outcome,” he added.

Earlier, other sources told The Second Opinion that the Ministry of Health had advised the party against holding the primaries through the queuing system, arguing that it would pose the threat of spreading the deadly pandemic.

“After consultation, the health ministry advised the party that the method of lining up voters during the party primary election would cause more harm as both the candidates and supporters may not observe the SOP  and social distancing,” a source said, adding that the MoH also hinted at lack of mechanisms for ‘contact background’ in case of omissions.

In a related development, another source within the NRM that the party would look for funds to conduct primaries by use of ballot papers and digitalized scientific campaigns.