Chad’s electoral commission has disqualified a senior member of the ruling party, raising questions ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
Chad’s electoral commission has released a provisional list of candidates for the forthcoming combined legislative and local elections, disqualifying at least six officials from the ruling party.
This includes Mahamat Zen Bada, the secretary general of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS).
According to the National Election Management Agency (ANGE), he did not disclose a 2012 conviction for forgery and misappropriation of public funds.
Even though Zen Bada was later granted a presidential pardon, under Chadian law a conviction that is pardoned remains on an individual’s criminal record.
The MPS is the party associated with former Chadian president Idriss Deby and currently serves as the primary supporter of his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, who is the incumbent president.
Among the other disqualified officials, several have previously been sentenced to prison, with reports indicating that four of them were convicted for embezzling public funds.
READ ALSO: Scores of Nigerian Fishermen Killed in Chad Military Airstrike
The MPS states that it is currently conducting an investigation and will support any of the unsuccessful candidates if they choose to appeal the decision.
These must be submitted to the Constitutional Council within five days.
The electoral agency rejected 46 out of the 1,321 candidates from 179 political parties or coalitions who applied to run in the legislative polls.
Out of the 1,260 candidates representing 134 parties who applied to participate in local elections, validation was denied to 103 individuals.
The legislative elections, which are the first since 2011, are scheduled for December 29.
