Nafie Ali Nafie, a leading figure in Sudan’s ruling national Congress Party (NCP), has disclosed that groups within the party are pushing for a new nominee for presidential elections in April 2015, to replace the incumbent Omar al Bashir.
Bashir himself previously has made conflicting statements over whether he will run or not. He has hinted that he would prefer not to run, while leaving the door open to do so.
In an interview with al-Rai al-Aam newspaper published on Monday, Nafie said some within the party are seeking an alternative candidate and that they have already been seeking to influence NCP’s structure to ensure their dominance. He declined to name the groups specifically.
This comes ahead of the NCP general convention next week.
Nafie, a former presidential assistant, was sacked last year along with a number of other senior NCP figures. At the time he was also vice-chairman of the party.
“The majority are in favour of Al Bashir’s reelection – while others wanted another candidate,” he said.
Nafie also denied reports that many in the NCP leadership prefer a Bashir candidacy merely to avoid division within the party.
He further denied having any ambitions for the presidency himself, while admitting that some people tried to spoil his relationship with his successor in the party and the government, Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour.
The former NCP deputy chairman also ridiculed opposition parties’ allegations that the ruling National Congress is now in a weak state. The long-serving NCP member asserted that that the ruling party is “fine.”
“I wish those people would believe their own words and have the courage to contest in the upcoming elections,” Nafie challenged.