As extremism continues to threaten the future of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the powerful opposition party is facing yet another political turbulence over impending East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) polls.
The contention arose after FDC Secretary General Hon Nandala Mafabi presented two candidates to parliament for elections.
The secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe was miserably defeated by little known Florence Ibbi in the party primaries.
Ibbi belongs to a camp of moderates whose ideology is grass root mobilisation and building structures while Ingrid subscribes to defiance under the command of FDC heavyweight Col Kizza Besigye.
Her (Ingrid) loss was perceived as a veiled signal that FDC members were fed up of populism and street politics.
In fact there was excitement among the public as many dreaded Ingrid would export her radicalism to the regional assembly had she won elections. “Why should we export that carnival campaigning anarchist charlatan to EALA,” a social media enthusiast wondered.
By fronting two candidates, Mafabi based on the rules of procedure of parliament on numerical strength which makes FDC the official opposition party.
However, the rules of procedure were amended before including independents to share the 3 slots.
This means that three opposition parties (UPC, DP and FDC) have to vie for two slots.
Withdraw
Yesterday party president Mugisha Muntu who has been accused by several members of practicing ‘boardroom politics’ took a bold move and wrote to the clerk of Parliament withdrawing the candidature of Ingrid.
Without mentioning the basis as to why he had resolved to do so, Muntu notified the clerk to act immediately.
“This letter is to notify you that as a party we are withdrawing candidate Kamateneti Ingrid Turinawe and retaining one candidate Ekwau Ibbi Florence effective the date of this letter we thank you for urgent action on this matter,” Muntu’s letter reads
The self styled iron lady- Ingrid a few minutes ago disregarded Muntu’s communication insisting, “I am in the race, the author of that letter has no authority to withdraw me. I have not seen my copy though, waiting for it so that I reply.
The letter has already ignited fury among the radicals who are questioning Muntu’s powers.
They rather maintain that Ingrid can only be withdrawn by the Secretary General. But whether they are deliberately forgetting that the president is the chief superintendent of the party only God can tell their motive!