The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has taken legal action by filing an urgent application with the Electoral Court of Namibia, seeking access to materials related to the National Assembly election held at the end of November. The party alleges irregularities in the electoral process, raising concerns about the integrity of the vote.
Christine !Auchamus, the IPC’s national general secretary, outlined the party’s grievances in a sworn statement submitted to the court. “There were clearly irregularities in the election,” she stated, pointing to key issues the party believes undermined the credibility of the process.
Central to the IPC’s complaint is the extension of the voting period and the establishment of additional polling stations, which the party claims were unlawful. According to !Auchamus, these actions potentially compromised the election’s integrity.
The IPC argues that access to election materials is crucial to substantiate their claims of irregularities. “Without these materials, we cannot determine the extent to which the electoral process may have been flawed,” !Auchamus emphasized in her statement.
The application seeks to compel the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to release the requested materials, which the IPC believes will shed light on whether the election adhered to legal and procedural standards.
The court has yet to announce a decision on the urgent application. Meanwhile, the ECN has not issued a public response to the IPC’s claims. This legal challenge comes amid growing scrutiny of electoral processes in Namibia, with opposition parties increasingly calling for greater transparency and accountability.
Observers say the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of electoral practices in the country, potentially setting a precedent for how disputes are handled in future elections.
