Nominees for presidency need 15,000 signatures

(By Radio Dabanga)

(By Radio Dabanga)

KHARTOUM (28 Dec.) – The procedures for the nomination of candidates for the presidency in Sudan and the governors have been announced. A candidate for the national presidency has to gather at least 15,000 signatures from his supporters in 17 different states in Sudan. The president for the South has to have 10,000 signatories from seven Southern states. A governor has to collect 5,000 signatures from his constituency before he can run for elections. From each locality he has to collect at least 100 authentic signatures. The procedures have been released today by the National Electoral Committee (NEC). The elections are scheduled for April 2010. The national presidential candidate has to deposit 10,000 Sudanese pounds (approximately 4,500 US dollars). Candidates for the southern presidential position within the Government of Southern Sudan have to deposit 5,000 (2,250 US Dollar) at the bank account of the NEC. The nominees for the different positions will have to hand in their signatures and money between the 12^th and 22nd of January 2010. NCP and SPLM have not officially announced their nominees for the presidency. Both president Omar Bashir (NCP) and first vice-president Salva Kiir (SPLM) might run for the presidency. The SPLM is discussing whether it will have a different candidate for the respective Southern and national presidential positions.