Last month, Kudat MP Verdon Bahanda – who is leading the movement – told FMT the movement was aiming to win at least four or five state constituencies in the upcoming polls.

In a Facebook video today, Verdon said numerous “Black Wave” supporters from across the state have told him they hoped the movement would not be limited to just a few constituencies.

“They asked why I was only focusing on four or five state seats. I explained that I am only operating as an individual (and not a political party),” he said.

“After hearing their views and having discussions with them, I am convinced that this ‘Black Wave’ needs to be expanded across Sabah.”

Verdon said he had already identified at least 10 of the state assembly’s 73 seats which can be contested by a network of like-minded independent candidates.

He added that the “Black Wave” movement has the potential to establish a third power bloc in Sabah’s political landscape, especially when considering the state’s evolving political dynamics.

“Although the ‘Black Wave’ is not a formal political party, we must stand under one shared ideology and a common manifesto,” he said.

Only three of the 56 independent candidates who participated in the 2020 Sabah state election won seats – Masiung Banah (Kuamut), Ruddy Awah (Pitas) and Rubin Balang (Kemabong).

All three went on to support chief minister Hajiji Noor.

The term of the current state assembly expires in October and the state election must be held by December.