[Raila Odinga in a past rally. A number of African leaders clinched power through his now preferred resistance movements. Photo/Nation]

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Raila Odinga's decision to convert his NASA coalition to National Resistance Movement may after all be the beginning of tough moments in the country.

With Odinga boycotting Thursday's presidential repeat poll, reports indicate that thousands of polling stations across the country were deserted when polls opened.

Described as a section of civilian who resist a legitimate of illegitimate government by causing civil disorder, a number of leaders have used such movements to clinch power.

In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni used NRM to clinch power in 1986 by toppling Milton Obote after a series of dictatorial regimes in the country.

Samora Machel of Mozambique also won presidency in 1975 through the FRELIMO resistance movement which brought to end Portuguese rule.

Closer home, Salva Kiir of South Sudan Used the SPLM  that successfully led to secession in Sudan to Africa's newest nation, South Sudan.

Junta leader in Burkina Faso Thomas Sankara, who would later on be celebrated as Africa's father of revolutionary movements, clinched power through a popular uprising in 1987 before he was assassinated.

Also beneficiaries of resistance movements include Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Kwame Nkuruma of Ghana and Abdel Nasser of Egypt.