Justicia Shipena
Calling off an election in a constituency or local authority can only happen when a candidate dies or becomes incapacitated.
This is according to Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chief electoral officer Peter Shaama, who was responding to the situation in the Ogongo Constituency, Omusati region, where a candidate withdrew, leaving only one person in the race.
Shaama said reports suggesting the regional council election in Ogongo could be postponed were incorrect.
On Friday, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Ndalikutya Arkeleus Shonena withdrew from the race, leaving Swapo’s Daniel Iilende as the only remaining candidate. Shonena said he withdrew because he felt disrespected and neglected.
His withdrawal cleared the way for Iilende to secure the council seat unopposed.
Shaama said the commission had not received a formal notification from the affected political party about the withdrawal.
“The commission’s position is based strictly on the Electoral Act of 2014, which allows for the poll to be called off only under specific conditions,” he said.
He explained that Section 83 of the Electoral Act provides for the termination of a poll only if a duly nominated candidate dies or becomes incapacitated after nomination.
“If a nominated candidate dies or becomes incapacitated before the poll commences, the President must withdraw the proclamation determining the polling day for that constituency,” Shaama said.
He added that if such an event occurs while the poll is taking place, the returning officer must immediately terminate the voting process and restart the nomination process.
Shaama clarified that a candidate’s withdrawal is only allowed before the close of nominations. Once nominations close, a resignation cannot be used as a reason to cancel or postpone an election.
Nominations for the 26 November elections closed on 16 October and Shonena withdrew from the race 22 days later.
“Given that the circumstances requiring the calling off of the poll in terms of Section 83 do not exist, the commission’s position is that the poll in Ogongo Constituency will proceed on 26 November 2025,” he said.
Shaama reiterated the ECN’s commitment to ensuring elections that are free, fair, transparent, credible and impartial.
