CORD Coalition Parties, Wiper And ODM Extend Deadlines for Aspirants

The Wiper party and ODM have extended deadlines for aspirants to submit applications for various positions.

The Orange Democratic Movement on Monday extended the deadline for submission of application forms from December 10 to December 20.

A statement from the National Elections Board chairman Muthee Kathurima said that the deadline which ought to have expired on Monday had been extended to Thursday next week.

“The National Elections Board wishes to inform all aspirants for the various positions in the March 4, 2013 General Election that the deadline for submission of application forms has been extended from today to Thursday December 20, 2012,” read the statement.

Kathurima also asked ODM officials who are seeking elective positions to quit as they are already time barred as stipulated in the party’s constitution.

“In accordance with rules and regulations governing the election process, including clause 7:19.1 of the ODM party constitution, all aspirants who are currently holding official positions in the party must have resigned by the close of business on December 8, 2012,” Kathurima added.

Meanwhile, the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) also extended its deadline for submitting applications at a National Delegates Conference held at the Kasarani gymnasium.

The delegates resolved by acclamation to extend the deadline for aspirants to hand in applications from December 10 to December 17.

In November, the ODM National Elections Board indefinitely postponed party primaries that were supposed to start on December 4.

In reaching the decision, the board said that it did not want its program to clash with that of national examinations for primary and secondary schools.

Both ODM and WDM have already dispensed with the nomination of their presidential candidates having endorsed Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka respectively.

The Elections Act requires parties to have conducted their nominations by January 18 and to have settled emerging disputes by January 25.