NDC ponders next move after failed nomination
NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is yet to decide on whether to support the UPND in the upcoming Chilanga parliamentary by-election after its candidate Webster Katongo failed to file his nomination on Thursday.
And Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary-General Davies Mwila has rubbished NDC’s claims that Mr Katongo was intimidated by the ruling party hence the decision not to file his nominations.
In an interview yesterday with the Daily Nation, NDC spokesperson Eric Chanda confirmed that the party’s central committee was expected to meet soon to decide on the next step to take on the matter.
“We are aware that our candidate did not file his nominations. We are still investigating on what transpired before we can issue a comprehensive statement on the matter.
On the issue of whether we will support the UPND, I think that decision will be made by our Central Committee. We will update you (press) on the outcome of our meeting,” said Mr Chanda.
Meanwhile, Mr Mwila rubbished NDC’s claims that its Chilanga parliamentary candidate was threatened by the ruling party hence the decision not to file his nominations.
Mr Mwila’s comment came amid sentiments by NDC member of the Central Committee Saboi Imboela that PF frustrated Mr Katongo’s attempts to file the nominations.
Ms Imboela alleged that PF threatened Mr Katongo with undisclosed actions should he file his nominations.
But Mr Mwila rubbished Ms Imboela’s claims describing them as baseless and only meant to gain cheap political mileage.
“Those are just lies. First they had announced that they had a candidate and we expected them to file nominations at 13:00 hours but they didn’t have a candidate. Their candidate chickened out. So no one was intimidated, no one was threatened. And if surely that person was intimidated let him report the matter to the police.
Mr Mwila cautioned the NDC to refrain from using lies against PF to solicit public sympathy.
NDC is just scared of us. They know we are going to defeat them. We are going to win that seat. They have started giving excuses.