Jaime Estrada denounces bank account freeze amid Manabí candidacy dispute

Jaime Estrada Medranda, a candidate for the Prefecture of Manabí representing the Sí Podemos movement, has denounced the freezing of his bank accounts. Estrada claims the measure is “without legal basis” and is a coercive tactic intended to force him to withdraw from the 2026 sectional elections.

Estrada alleges that the Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN) party orchestrated an untimely and irregular legal objection to his candidacy. He pointed to formal flaws in the objection documents, including a lack of required signatures from the Manabí Electoral Board and ADN's legal representative. Furthermore, he noted that the Electoral Board acknowledged a notification error that delayed his awareness of the proceedings, which he argues violates his right to a defense.

This development occurs amid heightened political tension in Manabí and follows similar complaints from other political figures regarding financial restrictions and legal obstacles to their participation in the electoral process.