In a provisional list published by National Electoral Commission (NEC) six presidential hopefuls were disqualified on grounds of failing to meet average requirements. Interestingly, previous candidates like Diane Rwigara and Fred Barafinda Sekikubo fell short of eligible requirements for the second time in a row.
While announcing the provisional list of people that will make it to the ballot paper in the July upcoming presidential elections, Odda Gasinzigwa, chairperson of NEC stated that both Barafinda and Rwigara did not make it to the list for the second time in a row citing more or less reasons that disqualified them in the 2017 polls.
Only three candidates, among nine that filed credentials to the national electoral commission, were eligible to run for presidency and those include Rwanda’s current Head of State Paul Kagame, Democratic Green Party leader Frank Habineza and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.
While candidate Diane Rwigara’s file was dismissed on basis of failing to submit an up-to-date criminal record; failed to provide a valid ID card on top of required 600 endorsing supporters from all 30 districts of the country, Fred Barafinda Sekikubo did not provide signatures of at least 12 supporters with ID cards that were issued in and are on voters’ list in the 10 districts.
The new other presidential aspirants who were dismissed on basis of failing to meet basic requirements include Herman Manirareba, Innocent Hakizimana, Thomas Habimana and Jean Mbanda. All the dismissed candidates have few days to appeal the decision before the electoral commission announces the final list on June 14th.
A group of netizens on social media stated that It is commendable NEC has heeded calls of citizens in disqualifying candidates that wanted to disrupt upcoming elections. Previously they had expressed concerns on how can people like Diane Rwigara, a renowned fraudster who once claimed to run for presidency in revenge for his father, be allowed to feature on the presidential candidate list. Even more a person like Fred Barafinda Sekikubo who was once declared mentally unfit to run for presidency.
Despite constant noise by anti-Rwanda campaigners under the useless misconceived slogans of democracy and rights, social media users argued that Rwanda’s contemporary politics have no room for mentally disturbed people, grudgers or adventurers arguing that NEC did well to dismiss them.
NEC not only relieved a worrying mass of Rwandans that wondered how the campaigns would look like when fraudsters and mentally disturbed people were running the show, but also reinforced the integrity of the electoral process by upholding stringent eligibility criteria.
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