[ODM Galbeth ward returning officer Stephen Odiambo issues ODM aspirant Abdirizak Ismail with the certificate after he won on Thursday.] (Photo/star.co.ke.)
A repeat of the ODM nominations exercise for the Galbeth Ward in Garissa County on Thursday turned chaotic when one of the aspirants Abdirizak Ismail was beaten and seriously injured by supporters of his rival in a bungled repeat exercise.
This is after a Nairobi court ordered for a repeat of the ODM nomination after Ibrahim Ali filed a petition in cour after Abdirizak was issued with a certificate by the IEBC returning officer Dulacha Boru.
According to KNA, trouble started at KEFRI polling station when Ibrahim Ali insisted that his people must be given a right to vote despite the party returning officer Stephen Odhiambo ordering that the station be closed at 5.30 pm.
Hell broke loose when supporters of Ibrahim on sensing defeat disrupted the counting of votes at KEFRI polling station.
Abdirizak was leading by over 100 votes in 3 of the polling stations that had been counted.
Ibrahim supporters descended on Abdirizak with kicks, blows sending him to the ground, before police were quickly arrived at the scene and restored order but the supporters destroyed ballot boxes.
Ibdirizak was rushed to a private hospital in Garissa town where he was admitted with head and body bruises.
Addressing the press after receiving his party nomination certificate Abdirizak condemned the incident saying it should not have happened in the first place.
“My competitor went out and came back with goons and mercilessly beat up my supporters and myself. It is by the grace of God that I managed to escape,” he said as reported by KNA.
Ibrahim's supporter said he traveled to Nairobi to seek another court injunction.
Abdirizak was issued with the nomination certificate after he won with 354 against his Ali's 206.