The “citizen surge”: Analysis of the situation of deputies invalidated by the CENI
On January 6, several unsuccessful candidates in the presidential election of December 20 as well as political leaders and opinion leaders gathered around a common cause, which they called “the citizen surge”. This meeting aimed to analyze the situation of 82 national deputies invalidated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) for electoral fraud.
In their statement, the participants assert that the CENI is directly responsible for the great electoral mystification that took place during the last elections. According to them, the cancellation of the legislative elections in certain constituencies and the invalidation of these 82 deputies are an attempt by the CENI to evade its responsibility in the electoral chaos and disorder which marked this period.
According to the unsuccessful candidates, the analysis of the list of 82 invalidated deputies clearly demonstrates that the fraud has spread throughout the country. They underline the fact that the beneficiaries of the voting machines are mainly affiliated with the political family of elected President Félix Tshisekedi and hold positions of responsibility in the State such as ministers, senators, governors, deputies, etc.
These findings raise questions about the credibility of the elections and the role played by the CENI. Participants wonder how it is possible that only the legislative election was corrupted while the presidential election was not. According to them, this demonstrates that the CENI, at all levels, not only participated in the fraud, but was also the instigator of it, even though it was responsible for the exclusive management of the voting machines.
Faced with this situation, unsuccessful candidates, political leaders and opinion leaders are calling for the total cancellation of the elections of December 20, 2023 at all levels and demanding that Denis Kadima, the members of the CENI, as well as all stakeholders involved in electoral fraud are brought to justice immediately.
This meeting, called “citizen burst”, demonstrates the importance of transparency and integrity in the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These different actors in Congolese political life express their determination to fight against electoral fraud and to defend democratic principles, thus highlighting their commitment to the Congolese people.
In conclusion, the “citizen surge” reveals the many questions raised by the situation of invalidated deputies in the DRC. He underlines the importance of a transparent and honest electoral process to guarantee the legitimacy of the results and the confidence of the Congolese people.. The complaints of the participants in this meeting highlight the need for concrete actions to shed light on electoral fraud and bring those responsible to justice.