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Nkuba to challenge TLS election results

Sweetbert Nkuba

DODOMA – Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) presidential candidate Advocate Sweetbert Nkuba announced on Saturday a decision to challenge the results of the Friday vote citing gross irregularities. 

TLS members voted on August 2 in which barrister Boniface Mwabukusi emerged victorious with 1,274 votes, defeating several other candidates, including Nkuba, who garnered 807 votes. 

The other candidates, Ibrahim Bendera got 58 votes, Paul Kaunda (51), Emmanuel Muga (18), and Revocatus Kuuli (7).

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Speaking in Dodoma, Nkuba expressed his dissatisfaction with the results, stating that they do not accurately reflect the outcome of the election. He raised concerns about the conduct of the TLS election committee, alleging that the process was marred by significant irregularities.

“There was substantial manipulation. The Committee knew the number of voters when they prepared the ballot papers, yet in an unexpected and unprofessional manner, they ran out of voting papers,” he said detailing further: “The Committee then took it upon themselves to print additional ballot papers in the middle of the voting process, indicating a lack of organization, whether intentional or due to sabotage.”

Explaining the vote counting process, Nkuba said agents were sent to oversee the counting with an agreement that they would not be allowed to use communication devices. However, he claimed that election results were being broadcast on the internet before they were officially announced by the Committee.

“Congratulations started pouring in online for the presumed winner even before the Election Committee had officially released the results. This occurred two hours ahead of the formal announcement, with messages congratulating the winner being circulated while the agents and other individuals in the counting room were supposedly without any form of communication,” Nkuba explained.

ALSO READ: Mwabukusi wins TLS presidential election

Nkuba has accused the Election Committee of undermining the election process through a lack of professionalism and has vowed to take legal action.

“I want to inform the public that I am taking this matter to court. I have instructed my lawyers to challenge the results and seek the annulment of the victory declared by the election committee,” he said.

Nkuba remains hopeful that the court will administer justice, annul the election results, and call for a new election that will be conducted in accordance with proper standards and uphold the principles of professionalism and equality for all candidates.