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January 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – More than 15 leading figures in the Federal Truth Party (FTP) expressed their rejection of participating in the general elections and accused its chairman Fadl al-Sayed Shuaib of collaborating with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

Federal Truth Party leader Fadl al-Sayed Shuaib

In a statement obtained by Sudan Tribune on Sunday, the 15 FTP figures distanced themselves from Shuaib’s decision to run for presidency and slammed him from bypassing the institution and gave him the choice of withdrawing from the presidential race or leaving the party.

The statement was signed by the leadership council which includes Deputy Chairman, Finance secretary and Secretary of Organisation, Secretary of Headquarters, Secretary Women Affairs and FTP head in the state of Khartoum among many other top figures.

The signatories denounced what they described as unilateral way in which Shuaib runs the party and accused him of working in coordination with the NCP to have the FTP participate in the elections which runs contrary to the consensus of opposition parties that participated in the government-sponsired national dialogue process.

The statement said that Shuaib violated the opposition consensus and affirmed that the party refuses to participate in the elections except through national dialogue called by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir called him to lead the country.

“From where will the party leader come with the necessary funding to contest in the elections at all levels when the party was unable to provide money to lease a headquarters for the party?” the statement said.

In January 2014, Bashir called on political parties and rebel groups to take part in a national conference on peace and constitutional reforms, adding that this process should be held inside the country without foreign intervention.

He also stated that rebels must sign security arrangements agreements before joining the process.

The opposition, on the other side, reacted differently to the call, but shared same view on postponement of elections, asserting that political freedoms and basic human rights as top priorities for the creation of a conducive environment.

Major opposition parties such as the National Umma Party (NUP) and the Popular Congress Party (PCP) said they will not participate in the elections asserting that the NCP holds absolute control over power and refuses to make any compromise to end the civil war and allow public liberties.
(ST)