Isaias Samakuva returned to the leadership of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) until the election of a new president for the biggest opposition party, following the ruling of the Constitutional Court that dictated the annulment of the XIII Congress of the "Galo Negro" party and, consequently, the dismissal of Adalberto da Costa Júnior, who had won the congressional race for the presidency of the main opposition party.
João Lourenço, who this Monday sworn in Isaías Samakuva as adviser to the Republic in the ceremony that precedes the meeting of this consultative body of the President, highlighted the qualities of the party leader who was at the head of UNITA for 16 years.
"Fate wanted the country to call him for the second time to play the same role, which is not common, for that reason I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him", João Lourenço told Isaías Samakuva, highlighting his "qualities".
"You were already our colleague in the Council of the Republic for some time, as we know what we expect of you. As an advisor to the President of the Republic, I hope that this time he will come to stay," he added.
The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, called for this Monday a session of the Council of the Republic to address the situation of covid-19 in Angola, presentation of the report of the public consultation process on the alteration of the Administrative Policy Division and the preparation of the electoral process.
In a statement from the executive secretariat of its Standing Committee, UNITA decided that it was Samakuva's responsibility to "take possession and occupy the seat reserved for UNITA in the Council of the Republic and exercise all the powers reserved for the position", discarding "any speculation surrounding the powers of the leader of UNITA".
The Constitutional Court (TC) annulled the XIII UNITA Congress, in which Adalberto da Costa Júnior was elected, invoking a violation of the Constitution and giving reason to a group of party activists, who requested the nullity of the congress, citing various irregularities.
Among the alleged irregularities is the dual nationality of Adalberto da Costa Júnior on the date of submission of his candidacy for the elections of the XIII Congress.
The judgment was signed by seven of the eleven councilor judges and was not unanimous, with judge Josefa Neto having voted defeated.
Last week, UNITA decided to schedule a new congress that should take place by December 4th.
