Renthia Kaimbi
The resignation of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Ndalikutya Arkeleus Shonena has left the Ogongo Constituency in the Omusati region without a contested race.
This might clear the way for Swapo’s Daniel Iilende to secure the council seat unopposed.
In his resignation letter dated Friday, Shonena wrote, “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down and discontinue my membership with the IPC in order to pursue new personal and political directions.”
Shortly after resigning from the IPC, Shonena joined the Swapo Party.
His withdrawal, though politically surprising, is allowed under Namibia’s electoral law.
Corporate governance expert Johan Coetzee confirmed that section 80(7) of the Electoral Act of 2014 permits candidates to withdraw their nominations for regional council elections.
He said the regulations on the nomination of candidates outline the proper procedure through part D of form 21, which allows a lawful withdrawal once completed.
Coetzee noted that although the specific wording is not clearly found in the reviewed sections of the Act, Namibia’s past practice supports declaring an election uncontested when only one candidate remains.
He added that historical precedent is clear.
With Shonena’s withdrawal, the ECN faces a procedural challenge.
Based on Coetzee’s interpretation, voting in the Ogongo Constituency is unlikely to take place and Iilende may be declared the councillor without a poll.
Polling officials already assigned to Ogongo might be reassigned to other constituencies.
Coetzee said the law provides a clear withdrawal process with no penalties for candidates who follow it, even if the decision carries political consequences.
Political analyst Sakaria Johannes said Shonena’s resignation raises questions about possible political motives.
“We need to ask ourselves questions. What triggered this man to resign from his candidacy? Maybe it was a strategy from the ruling party. Maybe these people were just sent and they were candidates to disrupt the opposition party,” he said.
He added that the move would hurt the IPC’s campaign efforts and financial investment.
“This person has maybe been campaigning. The party may have spent their resources on this person. And at the end of the day, this person decided to resign. And the new person coming in, that person will not have enough time to campaign anymore,” he said.
Johannes also questioned whether the ECN would allow the IPC to nominate a new candidate, saying the process would depend on timing and the party’s internal procedures.
“It’s only a matter of weeks that’s left for us to go to the polls. Yes, the political party might be able to nominate a new candidate, but that will now be up to the ECN. Names are already submitted for candidates. Will ECN allow them to register a new candidate or not?” he asked.
He agreed with Coetzee that while replacing Shonena might breach electoral rules, no law prevents him from resigning.
When contacted, IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge declined to comment.
“Please deal with ECN. We don’t run elections,” he said.
The ECN has not yet issued an official statement regarding the situation in Ogongo Constituency.
