Chad Smith is challenging the last election for the post of Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.  At the heart of the dispute is the participation of the so-called freedmen in the election.

The challenge is being made on constitutional grounds.  Smith tells KRMG “Basically what you have in this instance is an election conducted in violation of our Constitution.  So if we’re going to have an election it needs to be constitutionally sound, not politically expedient.”

Smith is also alleging votes were cast illegally after the election day.

This challenge is the latest twist to an election process for the tribe that can honestly be described as messy.  Both Smith and Bill John Baker have claimed victory at various points in the process.