[Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo in a past event. He now claims that ODM NEB cannot deliver a credible election. Photo/the –star.co.ke]
Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo has now questioned the integrity of Orange Democratic Movement Party's National Elections Board (NEB) and the organ's capability to conduct free, fair and transparent party primaries.
Speaking on Sunday, the National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader claimed that the party's nomination process could be unfair and prejudiced, citing bribery and rigging claims that have marred ODM's primaries.
“We have asked NEB to tell us the process they used to recruit the election staff. They have refused and Pareno does not talk. What we are asking is the same thing facing everybody. NEB is an organ under us. It cannot act independently, be corrupt and we don’t comment about it,” he said in a telephone interview with the Star.
ODM political affairs director Opiyo Wandayi, however, has since dismissed Midiwo's assertions, observing that the Judy Pareno-led board is an independent organ that cannot be compromised.
“Aspirants would always want to control the election process to suit their interests. It is impossible for NEB while composing the election panels to satisfy the interests of every aspirant,” he said.