Dar es Salaam. Presidential aspirants from six political parties have already collected nomination forms from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ready for the race to the country’s top leadership position in the General Election on October 29, 2025.
These include Samia Suluhu Hassan from the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), who was accompanied by her running mate, Emmanuel Nchimbi, to the INEC offices in Dodoma on Saturday to collect the presidential nomination form.
This will mark President Samia’s first time contesting for the presidency as a principal candidate. She assumed office on March 19, 2021, following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. While she participated in previous elections (2015 and 2020), she did so as Magufuli’s running mate.
Speaking after collecting the nomination forms, Nchimbi stated he is fully prepared to participate in the subsequent election phases as a running mate.
“I am fully prepared, knowing that our party has a resounding victory ahead,” Nchimbi told a rally in Dodoma. “I am fully prepared to be your supporter, not your competitor. I will assist you with all my strength and ability to ensure you fulfill CCM’s manifesto.”
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Other political parties which collected presidential nomination forms at INEC offices include the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA), which will field Hassan Kisabya as its presidential candidate and Ally Hassan as his running mate.
Addressing journalists shortly after collecting the nomination forms, Kisabya stated that NRA has three pillars of hope for the upcoming elections – which will include presidential, parliamentary, and councilor races. He identified these as: God, the voting citizens, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which will announce the results.
Another contender is the Alliance for Africa Farmers Party (AAFP), which will field Kunje Ngombare Mwiru as its presidential candidate with Chumu Abdallah Juma as running mate in the upcoming elections.
On its part, Chama cha Makini will be represented by Coaster Kibonde as its presidential candidate, with Azza Haji Suleiman as the running mate.
The presidential candidate for United Peoples’ Democratic Party (UPDP) will be Twalib Ibrahim Kadege and his running mate Abdalla Mohamed Khamis.
Meanwhile, the National League for Democracy (NLD) will be represented by Doyo Hassan Doyo as its presidential candidate, with Chausiku Khatibu Mohamed as the running mate.
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In total, 14 political parties have formally notified INEC of their intention to field presidential candidates in the October 29, 2025 General Election.
This includes the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), which during its Special General Assembly on Saturday announced its participation in the elections while demanding crucial legal reforms to ensure free and fair polls.
“We have consistently advocated for fundamental reforms to establish a truly democratic and equitable political environment,” CUF national chairperson Ibrahim Lipumba told a press conference.
“We demand the establishment of an independent electoral commission for the United Republic of Tanzania, a separate independent electoral commission for Zanzibar, and good governance reforms across Tanzania to eradicate the rampant corruption and bribery,” he added.
