By P, KNA
Politicians seeking to fly the Orange Democratic Movement flag during the forthcoming Ugunja constituency by elections have raised a red flag over alleged plans to rig the party’s nominations.
The aspirants claimed that some party officials were scheming to play dirty during the primaries in favour of a relative of a former member of parliament.
According to the candidates and their supporters, delay by the ODM headquarters to address several glaring gaps could be part of the wider scheme to ensure that a nephew of a senior government official enjoyed undue head start ahead before the polls.
The ODM members and aspirants including Engineer Fredrick Z.B. Owino, youth leader, Emmanuel Odhiambo and women leader, Mary Anyango Nyaudo registered their displeasure with ongoing party arrangements a press conference in Ugunja town.
They also urged security agencies in the areas to be on high alert amid reports that some political aspirants were planning violence during this Friday’s party’s primaries in Ugunja constituency.
Youth leader Odhiambo said the party headquarters will have to urgently address the gaps if it was to safeguard the integrity of the exercise.
“These primaries are a defining moment for our constituency and ODM must ensure transparency and fairness” he said.
Among the issues that the members want the party headquarters to address, Odhiambo said, was the uploading of new polling centres as agreed by those vying for party nominations and the declaration on which members’ register will be used to identify those legible to participate in the nominations.
He further said that the candidates have not been appraised on the materials that will be used during the nominations.
“There are growing concerns of deliberate delays meant to create loopholes for rigging” he said adding “ODM must guarantee timely and equal distribution to all centres.”
The members further called on the party headquarters to ensure that tallying of the results will be conducted in a neutral centre which is accessible to all candidates.
On security, Odhiambo said that a candidate and his campaigners have openly been boasting of plans to block those perceived to be their opponents’ supporters from taking part in the exercise.
He said that they have already raised the matter with the party headquarters and wrote to the sub county security committee led by the deputy county commissioner and gave copies to the sub county police commander and the directorate of criminal investigations.
His sentiments were echoed by women leader, Mary Anyango Nyaudo alias Nyar Mombasa who said that no amount of intimidation will stop Ugunja residents from voting in a candidate of their choice to represent them.
Engineer Fredrick Z.B. Owino who is one of the candidates seeking the ODM ticket said the party will have to ensure that a fair referee presides of the exercise.
He called on the residents to maintain peace and turn out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right.
Ugunja constituency voters will go to the polls on 27th November,2027 to elect a member of parliament to replace energy cabinet secretary, Opiyo Wandayi who relinquished the seat to take over the cabinet slot in the broad-based government.
Three candidates, Moses Omondi Okoth, Otieno Alur and Eng. Francis Owino are vying for the ODM party ticket.
