63 PF MPs back Lungu but Scott stands firm over General Conference

The ongoing succession battle in the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has taken a fresh twist as 63 out of 82 PF Members of Parliament endorsed the candidature of Secretary General Edgar Lungu as party president. The endorsement was made at a consultative meeting of PF MPs and some central Committee Members held at government complex this morning.

The consultative meeting, which was chaired by party National Chairperson Inonge Wina, has also petitioned the Central Committee to adopt Lungu as PF presidential candidate. The move sparked scenes of jubilation among scores of Lungu supporters that had converged at the government complex premises.

But acting republican president and PF president Guy Scott has dismissed the endorsement as unconstitutional. He warned that he will not allow any shortcuts in the process of selecting late president Michael Sata’s successor, adding that the new party president will only be elected at a general conference.

He revealed that he had already started making arrangements for the extraordinary general conference to elect a new party leader who will also be its candidate for the forthcoming presidential by-election.