Mahmud Abbas's ruling Fatah faction may feel confident heading into local elections without having to face its Hamas rival, but the party is going to the public with its ranks divided.
Ballot booths across the West Bank will open on Saturday morning for the initial stage of the first elections in nearly seven years, as Palestinians vote in a local poll.
Last time they voted was in the January 2006 general elections which the Islamist Hamas movement won by a landslide.
And during local elections a year earlier, Hamas also won a major victory in its Gaza stronghold -- the first time it had participated in the democratic process.
This time Hamas is boycotting the vote as "illegitimate" over a long-running dispute with Fatah, much to the relief of its West Bank rival.
But rather than enjoying a clear field, Fatah has found itself divided after several party members set up their own independent lists, eschewing those designated by the faction.
One of them is Ghassan Shakaa, a lawyer who comes from one of the most prominent families in Nablus and who served as mayor of the northern city for 10 years, heading one of the largest and most important Palestinian municipalities in the West Bank.
Shakaa, who stepped down as mayor in 2004, is now running for re-election at the head of an 11-strong list of Fatah candidates called the "Nablus National Independent" list, which is neck-and-neck with a rival Fatah list called "Development and Independence" headed by Amin Maqbul of the party's Revolutionary Council.
A third list called "Nablus for Everybody" is backed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Shakaa's decision infuriated the party, prompting its Central Committee to expel him and those on his list for failing to comply with party resolutions which limit electoral participation to designated lists.
In total, Fatah has expelled 45 members across the West Bank -- 18 in the north and 27 in the south -- for joining non-party lists.
"These are dissidents who had a fragile connection to the movement and are only looking for important positions," Maqbul told AFP.
"They put their own interests before that of the movement so they were expelled," he explained, saying they were kicked out in a "democratic" manner after attempts to convince them to join a Fatah list failed.
Like many others, his concern is that by running on a separate list, it will dilute the votes and "undermine Fatah's power, and could have a negative effect on the results."
Following Hamas's shock win in 2006, an internal Fatah report found that the reason it fared so badly was because some of its members had run on independent lists.
But Shakaa, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's (PLO) Executive Committee, denied he was fired, saying he had "already resigned" from Fatah over an internal dispute which was not connected to the party.
"I didn't get into any confrontation with Fatah or with any other faction. All I think about is serving my city and its people," he said.
"My list will cooperate with the other two lists that are competing for seats if they get to the municipality -- as long as the goal is to serve the people, and as long as there is consensus that the PLO is the first and last reference of all three lists."
Internal disputes aside, most Fatah members are hard pressed to hide their relief that Hamas is not running, saying the party will finally be able to regain control over local councils that were lost to Hamas in 2005.
Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, a Hamas official said the movement had "decided not to participate in the elections because holding them without a national consensus government only cements the division."
"That is our decision but we cannot ban individuals (who would have supported Hamas) from voting for one party or another."
He said turnout was expected to be low, meaning Hamas could end up being "the victorious power in these elections, despite not participating."
Such infighting has caused concern in the city where observers fear the bitter divisions would likely have a negative effect on the performance of the local council.
Voters are also divided over who should get their ballot.
"I am with Fatah so I will vote for Maqbul's list," said taxi driver Abu Mohammed.
"I am not going to vote because I am not convinced by these candidates or their lists," shrugs teacher Jaber Ahmed.
For others, it is not a question of party loyalties but choosing the best man for the job.
"Ghassan Shakaa is a tough man and applies the rule of law," one trader told AFP without giving his name.
"He was mayor before, and this city only works with a firm hand."
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