Omar drags Atupele to court over UDF expulsion

The expelled United Democratic Front (UDF) member Iqbal Omar has dragged his party president Atupele Muluzi to court seeking for reversal of the decision to boot him from the party.

Omar, who was party vice president before being sacked, has hired the services of Robert Kadzakumanja and Company law firm to contest against the decision made late last year by UDF to expel him on accusations that he was setting parallel structures.

He denies the accusations.

But he has structures that he runs under the banner of UDF parallel to the party rank and file.

He bankrolled and organised his grouping to hold a news conference in Lilongwe where the people said they want UDF president to step down so Omar can take over, threatening unspecified action.

Alex Waziri, who is a leader of the Omar faction, said Atupele should resign peacefully or the group will use force him to quit.

“Atupele has killed UDF. The party is dead, what we are saying is that we need someone who will steer the party to great heights,” said Waziri.

He said Omar wants to resurrect UDF and fight the Democratic Progressive Party government against bad governance and economic mismanagement.

But UDF spokesperson, Ken Ndanga, recently trashed the comments from the Omar faction saying they are expelled members have no mandate to comment on party issues.