By D, KNA
A dispute that marred ODM party grassroot elections in Ndhiwa Constituency has been addressed by the party top elections organ.
The constituency has had two factions of ODM party leadership following grass root elections held on April 9 this year.
One faction has Kanyamwa Kosewe Member of County Assembly Nicholas Owaka as the chair, while the other has Jerry Odeny as the chairman.
To resolve the stalemate, the ODM National Elections Board has confirmed that Owaka and his faction members are the bona fide party officials in the constituency.
“We have had leadership wrangles but I am happy that ODM party elections board has made a declaration that I am the Chairman. This applies to the rest of my team members based on how we were elected,” Owaka said.
Owaka, who was accompanied by his Vice Oscar Abote, Secretary Walter Muok, and Women Leader Caroline Odundo extended an olive branch to their rivals.
Owaka urged all members of the party to forget the past differences and support his leadership.
He said all ODM members in the constituency should join hands and strengthen the party at the grassroots.
Owaka said their main objective was to strengthen ODM by registering as many members as possible.
Muok criticized the leaders who were still opposed to the decision of the ODM elections board.
On his part, Abote said the interest of ODM supersedes the interest of any individual in the party.
He said every leader should now focus on the party membership registration.
“Let our opponent join us to strengthen this party because the focus now is strengthening it,” Abote said.
However, the decision of ODM was vehemently opposed by Odeny’s faction.
Odeny insisted that members of his team were the genuinely elected officials.
He said they were surprised that ODM National Elections Board has approved names of people who were not elected. The names do not reflect the voice of ODM members in Ndhiwa,” Odeny said.
He called for quashing of the decision. “We want the party leadership to rescind this decision immediately.” Odeny said.
The faction’s Vice Chair Ogina Nyabola called on ODM leader Raila Odinga to intervene in and solve the dispute.
Odeny’s Secretary Harrison Abo said the board made a decision based on a flawed election.
“We cannot have a list of party officials, where the names of area Member of Parliament Martin Owino and the current party chairman in the County Milton Orata are missing as delegates,” he said.
The Organizing Secretary of the faction, Odero Ogada said the board’s decision was erroneous.
