By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Presidential candidate of the National Grand Coalition (NGC), Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, is set to run for a seat in the House of Parliament.
According to a press release from the party on Saturday, Dr. Yumkella will run for a seat in Parliament in Constituency 062, Samu Chiefdom, in Kambia District. This will see the candidate run for two offices simultaneously; for presidency and Member of Parliament (MP).
“Alhaji Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella will contest the general elections on March 7th 2018 both as the Presidential candidate of the NGC and as a candidate for Constituency 062,” a statement from the party reads.
It is not clear how he plans to blend his campaign for both offices or what will happen if he wins both offices. A statement from the party did not specify details of how this will work.
In the last week, Dr. Yumkella’s citizenship has come in to question, with reports linking him with multiple citizenship. The party has denied the speculations.
Nomination for MPs will be opened soon and NGC says Dr. Yumkella has completed the internal screening process to be eligible as a candidate for the House of Parliament.
Critics have described the move by NGC as a fall back plan incase Dr. Yumkella loses the election. However, NGC stalwarts have lauded the move as a clever one, looking forward to the advantage it will have if the president is part of the legislative arm of government.