[ODM party officials. Photo/the-star]
The ODM party has announced that it will continue with its party primaries, as scheduled.
This is after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced that the party should not hold the nominations until it announces the way forward.
ODM National Elections Board (NEB) chairman Judith Pareno said the Board met with IEBC officials led by the CEO Ezra Chiloba to discuss the staggered nominations in accordance with the party Elections and Nominations Rules January 6, and later complied in a letter dated January 25, 2017.
''The IEBC having listened to the Board demanded that the request be put it in writing. The Board complied in a letter dated 25th of January 2017. On the same day the party submitted its Elections and Nominations Rules as dictated by law.''
IEBC then gave ODM the go ahead to hold the nominations as per the proposal.
Pursuant to the arrangement, Pareno said the Board started the preparations for the primaries by submitting the list of aspirants together with a schedule of nomination dates as provided for, by the law.
She expressed dismay, saying the Elections Board was surprised that IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that the party could not hold its nominations in spite of the provisions in the party nominations rules.
According to her, nominations would commence as planned, except for Busia, Bungoma and Machakos Counties whose date has been pushed forward by a day, to give room for closure of schools.
The dates have been pushed from Friday 7, April to Saturday 8, April 2017. ''Preparations for the primaries are in top gear and all the logistics in place in readiness for the exercise.
In view of the above the Board wishes to advise all the party aspirants and members that the nominations shall proceed as scheduled save for Busia, Bungoma and Machakos Counties,'' Pareno said, Wednesday.