The Funyula MP garnered 63,752 votes against incumbent governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s 92,358, sparking protests from Otuoma’s supporters before he rejected the results. Photo/FILE.
Kenya Apr 17 – The Orange Democratic Movement National Elections Board has clarified that Busia gubernatorial repeat nomination will only be held in Teso North and Teso South on April 25.
The Board chairperson Judith Pareno says they have also overhauled the elections officials who oversaw the previous poll which was marred by irregularities.
“We are only going to repeat Teso South and Teso North, that is the decision of this Board because the rest of the results were uncontested and we don’t have to disturb the whole of the county just because of these two areas,” she told a news conference Monday.
She said a repeat poll was the best option given the nature of the dispute and appealed to Funyula MP Paul Otuoma against boycotting the repeat poll.
“As a Board, we are going to follow the nomination rules, which expect us to have a result that is announced and a winner declared but when you decide to quash those results then the only other option is for you to repeat. We are confident that we will be able to provide a free and fair result,” Pareno asserted.
The Funyula MP garnered 63,752 votes against incumbent governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s 92,358, sparking protests from Otuoma’s supporters before he rejected the results.
The Board nullified the nomination results after major irregularities were noted.
Otuoma on Saturday asked the party to hand him the ticket for the Busia seat and disqualify Governor Ojaamong’ whose win was nullified on Friday.
The Funyula MP said repeating the nomination would be rewarding Ojaamong’, ‘who should be punished for the rigging claims in his strongholds’.
The party also ordered fresh nominations for the Khwisero Constituency seat in Kakamega County and Butali/Chegulo Ward in Malava Constituency.
“In light of evidence presented the Board has nullified the results of the position of the Member of Parliament candidate for Khwisero Constituency and ordered fresh nominations for the same seat on Thursday,” Pareno said.
“Subsequently, the results of the MCA candidate for Butali/Chegulo Ward have also been nullified and a repeat nomination exercise ordered for Thursday. The same applies to Butsotso East Constituency where a repeat of the exercise has been ordered for Thursday,” she told a news conference at the Party Headquarters.
The Board has further cancelled the results of the Kilgoris Constituency nominations, after one of the aspirants was arrested with pre-marked ballot papers at the weekend.
Pareno said the party had disqualified Peter Morintat Oiboo from taking part in the primaries for alleged involvement in electoral malpractices.
The party said it will give directions on the new nomination dates before the end of the week.
According to IEBC timelines for nominations of candidates, political parties have until April 26 to nominate their candidates for Governor, Senate, National Assembly, County Woman Representatives and Member of County Assembly (MCAs).
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