United Democratic Front (UDF) national spokesperson Mabasen Narib has expressed dismay over the party’s founding father’s endorsement of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as his preferred presidential candidate.
Narib, in a statement released yesterday, says Justus //Garoëb has urged the Damara community to support Swapo’s presidential candidate.
“We have learned with great dismay that our founding father of the UDF party, Gaob //Garoëb, has endorsed Nandi-Ndaitwah as his preferred presidential candidate. He has done his best to persuade the Damara community to support his choice in the upcoming presidential elections,” Narib says.
Narib says //Garoëb made these remarks at the Damaran Gaob Festival at Okombahe last week.
“President Hendrik Gaobaeb and the entire UDF leadership would like to officially distance the party from the statement made by Gaob //Garoëb. We believe a traditional leader should remain neutral and refrain from political involvement.
“President Gaobaeb would like to set the record straight: the UDF Party has its own presidential candidate and will not endorse any other candidate. All ground forces and party members are urged to ensure that our people are well informed,” he says.
“//Garoëb spoke in his personal capacity, and his decision to endorse and rally support for Nandi-Ndaitwah is not supported by the UDF party.
“All UDF members are encouraged to remain vigilant and to continue mobilising support for Hendrik Gaobaeb in his bid to become the head of state. He is the UDF party’s official presidential candidate,” he says.
//Garoëb, who served as a member of parliament in the National Assembly from 1990 to 2015, is recognised as the founding father of the UDF party.
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