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This was revealed by the party on its official Twitter (X) handle on Friday, September 15, 2023. The statement further revealed that the picking of nomination forms had been closed by the party’s electoral commission.
"Today, the FDC Electoral Commission has officially closed the picking of nomination forms for all NEC positions. By the close of the day, 156 party members had picked nomination forms to compete for the 42 positions on the National Executive Committee (NEC). The return of nomination forms starts next week, Monday, September 18, 2023," the statement read.
This new development comes against the backdrop of internal chaos in the opposition's once-leading political party.
At the centre of the chaos are party secretary-general Nathan Nandala Mafabi, party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the party spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, party chairperson Wasswa Birigwa, and former party president Kizza Besigye, among others.
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Both Nandala and Amuriat are accused by Besigye, Ssemujju, and Birigwa of getting money from President Museveni, who also doubles as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson.
The money was allegedly used during the 2021 presidential elections.
The two have, however, severally denied these allegations, saying that the money they got was from safe sources and therefore party members should not worry about anything.
A delegates conference was called by the party chairperson, Wasswa Birigwa, who also demanded that the party fund the conference with funds to the tune of Sh350 million, but this was met with fierce resistance from both Nandala and Amuriat, who argued that Birigwa did not inform the party organs in time for the party to prepare the finances.
Birigwa has, however, severally insisted that the delegates conference, which is slated to take place on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, will have to take place.