KDP candidates face increasing election violations in Cham Chamal township
A KDP candidate, whose posters have been torn down, revealed that more than 40 were destroyed. “After removing them, posters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) candidates were placed where my posters were,” the candidate stated.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Since the start of the election campaign, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) candidates in Cham Chamal township have faced the highest number of violations.
A KDP candidate, whose posters have been torn down, revealed that more than 40 were destroyed. “After removing them, posters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) candidates were placed where my posters were,” the candidate stated.
The tearing and removal of KDP candidates' posters has become a recurring issue in Cham Chamal. Goran Mohammed, a KDP candidate for the Kurdistan Parliament in the Sulaimani constituency, told Kurdistan24 that his poster was taken down within two hours, only to be replaced by a PUK candidate's poster.
"I have evidence to back my claims. I personally selected that spot for my posters, and they were removed and torn," he said.
Mohammed has filed a complaint with the election commission, but no response has been received yet.
"There are numerous complaints, and it’s not just happening here; this issue is widespread across many other areas," he added.
Despite these violations, KDP officials remain undeterred. While most infractions have been reported in Sulaimani, the party's leadership insists that this will not impact their strategy to increase their vote share in the upcoming elections.
Hassan Majid, the head of the KDP’s third branch in Kirkuk, expressed confidence in the party’s success. "We anticipate securing significant votes. What matters most is achieving a major victory for the Kurdistan Democratic Party across the region. We always stress that the KDP was not established to replace any party, and no one can replace the KDP," he stated.
The KDP is contesting the sixth round of parliamentary elections in Sulaimani with 72 candidates, three of whom are running in Cham Chamal. They are competing against several political rivals to secure a seat in the Kurdistan Parliament.
The KDP has consistently advocated for a civilized and peaceful campaign. While the party has not officially responded to the poster removals, it continues to address the issue through legal channels.