Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir has dismissed as propaganda claims being spread on social media that he has opted out of the race to succeed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.
Nassir is expected to face stiff competition for the ODM party ticket from businessman Suleiman Shahbal in the race for governor.
On Sunday, social media was awash with reports that Nassir had quit the race and had opted to run for the senatorial seat instead.
A screenshot shared widely on Facebook and Twitter claimed the Mvita lawmaker had decided to go for the senatorial post after consultations with Joho and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Photos of youths clad in t-shirts printed "Abdulswamad for Senator 2022", were also shared on social media platforms.
Nassir says the Facebook and Twitter posts were fake and deliberately created by his political rivals who are engaging in mudslinging.
The MP on Sunday accused political opponents of employing dirty tricks to insinuate that he has chickened out of the governor race.
This is a second time within a span of three months that such reports, claiming that Nassir had abandoned governorship ambitions for senatorial race, have emerged.
Speaking in Tudor, Nassir told off political rivals saying they are trying to spread propaganda after running out of ideas.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals have now run out of ideas and are spreading propaganda that I will not be vying for governor. I’m still in the race,” Nassir said.
He warned his political opponents that he will not be derailed by their schemes and propaganda, adding that he is more focused on serving the people of Mombasa and that the truth will always prevail.
“The truth never needs support, it will always stand out on its own. I’m in the race and someone tell them (rivals) to continue with their propaganda, but we will not be moved,” he said.
In an indirect reference to Shahbal, Nassir said he will continue working for the people, as they (rivals) think of enriching themselves.
Nassir and Shahbal are seeking the ODM party ticket in their quest to succeed Joho.
However, Shahbal's camp distanced themselves from the Sunday's incident saying their candidate has no time for petty propaganda.
"We have no time for smear campaigns, we have been in the race since 2013, with only one focus of serving the people of Mombasa," Ahmed Mohammed from Shahbal’s campaign secretariat said.
He said their candidate has a development agenda for the people of Mombasa.
They accused Nassir and his supporters of stage-managing the incident by printing the t-shirts, which are almost similar to those of their candidate, to win sympathy from the people.
“Shahbal has no time for such kind of politics of dragging others into the mud. This is clear that other camp has panicked,” said an insider within Shahbal’s campaign team.
The 2022 election will be Shahbal’s third attempt in the Mombasa governor race.
According to Shahbal, the screenshots on social media are malicious campaigns by his opponents to tarnish his rather good name.
“We know who is behind such kind of politics. That is not our style of politics and we are not dumb to follow that route. We are focused on issue-based politics, not such kind of theatrics,” Mohammed said.
-Edited by SKanyara
