On Sunday, the concluding day of the nomination filing period for the upcoming Presidential and Provincial elections, the Independent Election Commission's (IEC) office was flooded by a bevy of last-minute Presidential hopefuls, including a number of high-profile names, forcing an extension of the original 4:00pm deadline.
A total of 27 tickets have registered for the Presidential race set for next April.
Among those who registered on the last day, prominent figures such as Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Abdul Qayoom Karzai, Hamidullah Qaderi, Mohammad Nader Naeem, Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, Daoud Sultanzoy, Gul Agha Sherzoi, Sarwar Ahmadzai and Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi were present.
Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, former Minister of Finance and Chancellor of Kabul University, registered with Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, the leader of the Junbish-e-Milli Party (JMP), and Sarwar Danesh, the former of Minister of Justice and a member of the Wahdat-e-Islami Party (WIP), as his two Vice Presidents. While speaking to reporters gathered outside the IEC office, Dr. Ahmadzai was not shy in expressing the confidence he has in his chances to win April's vote.
"I announce my candidature and ask the other candidates to join us. We will win next year's election," he said. However, one look around the field of candidates that registered on the same day would make it seem Dr. Ahmadzai will have his work cut out for him.
Qayoom Karzai, the brother of President Hamid Karzai, registered his nomination along with his two Vice-Presidents, Wahidullah Shahrani, the former Minister of Mines and Petroleum, and Ibrahim Qasimi, a former MP. Mr. Karzai was quick to invoke his brother's name, telling those present at the IEC office that he would expand upon the successes of the President.
"Over the past 13 years we have made great achievements. We called it a 'successful period.' We will continue to keep scaling new heights and strengthen the country," said Qayoom Karzai.
Hamidullah Qaderi, the former Transport Minister, registered with Aref Baraki and Humaira Haqmal as his deputies. Mr. Qaderi said that accelerating peace negotiations with the Taliban would be his top priority as President.
The nephew of former President Sardar Daoud Khan, Mohammad Nader Naeem, registered on the final day of the nomination process alongside Taj Mohammad Akbar and Azizullah Poya, the former head of the Ghazni Provincial Council, as his two deputies.
Ahmad Zia Masood, the leader of the National Front of Afghanistan (NFA), and Habiba Surabi, the former Governor of Bamyan province, were nominated as the two Vice-Presidents of Dr. Zalmai Rasoul, the former Foreign Minister. Dr. Rassoul cited good governance and fighting corruption as his top priorities if elected President.
"The job of a President is not easy. We will find out the citizens' problems and try to meet their demands," he said.
Former MP Daoud Sultanzoy filed alongside Ahmad Saeedi and Kazimia Mohaqeq as his Vice Presidents. While speaking to the media outside the IEC office, Mr. Sultanzoy said, "We will fight against corruption and will put an end to dictatorship in the country."
Gul Agha Shirzai, the former Governor of Nangarhar, also registered last-minute and introduced Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi and Mohammad Hashem Zaraa as his deputies.
Sarwar Ahmedzai, who ran in 2009 Presidential elections and placed 6th, filed with Dr. Abdula Rahman and Kabir Quraishi.
The former Minister of Commerce, Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, registered with Hashmatullah Mujadidi and Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar.
Majority of the Presidential candidates pointed to peace talks and good governance as the focal points of their platforms. However, it is likely policy priorities will not become entirely clear until campaigning officially begins on February 2.
For now, the registered candidates will have to wait until October 19, when the IEC will announce the nominees approved by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), which will be vetting the aspirants applications and backgrounds until then. The ECC is expected to begin its evaluations on Monday.
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, the European Union (EU) Special Representative and Head of the EU Delegation to Afghanistan in a statement released on Sunday reinforced calls for transparency and credibility in the upcoming elections, putting responsibility on the shoulders of Afghan leaders big and small.
"All actors across the country, including the government, politicians, tribal elders, religious leaders and civil society have a responsibility to ensure the elections are held transparently, with credibility and a legitimate result. It's very important that all candidates respect the election process and provide support for the process and encourage Afghans to vote," said Mr. Mellbin.
Meanwhile, Afghan residents have asked that candidates live up to their campaign promises.
"We want the candidates to actually do what they promise to the people, and not play games for votes," a resident of Kabul told TOLOnews on Sunday.