The United Democratic Movement (UDM) announced the availability of its leader Bantu Holomisa as the Premier candidate for the Eastern Cape, saying should the party do well in the upcoming May 29 elections, the party would approach the Independent Electoral Commission to change the UDM’s candidates list in the allowed window period after the elections.

On Saturday, during a prayer day in Gqeberha, Holomisa announced that he had, in principle, agreed to the nomination.

UDM deputy president and Chief Whip Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said in the months running up to the elections, Holomisa had been “pressurised” by various traditional leaders, religious groupings and civil society organisations and other individuals to consider the candidacy.

This had also been a desire of the UDM’s structures in the Eastern Cape, he added.

Kwankwa explained that being the national leader of a party, Holomisa would campaign in all provinces, but focus more of his time in the Eastern Cape.

Kwankwa noted that should the changes in the party’s candidate list succeed, he would, as Holomisa’s deputy, “step up to the plate” and be the de facto president of the party while Holomisa assisted in governing the Eastern Cape.