The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has acknowledged that illegitimate forms were submitted during its membership drive and assured the public of efforts to address the issue.
The party has faced significant criticism for allegedly submitting forms without individuals’ knowledge, including claims of forged signatures and incorrect or stolen personal data.
In a statement issued today, the PNC admitted that "even if few, some illegitimate forms" were submitted during their membership drive, which involved thousands of forms brought in by party activists and supporters. The party explained that it lacks the capacity to verify the authenticity of all forms prior to submission.
The PNC noted that questions about the legitimacy of the forms typically arise during the final stage when they are reviewed by the Elections Commission. They added that such challenges are not exclusive to their party.
To address the issue, the PNC announced full cooperation with investigations conducted by the Elections Commission and the Police. The party has also initiated its own internal investigation to determine how the irregularities occurred.
The PNC emphasized that it does not condone such actions and expressed a commitment to resolving the matter swiftly. They also urged anyone wrongly registered as a party member to report the issue by email.
The Elections Commission has revealed that over the past six months, it has received 300 complaints regarding individuals being registered with political parties without their consent or knowledge.