[Busia county council of elders at a media briefing in Samia sub-county, April 17. Photo/Courtesy]
ODM party leader Raila Odinga has been cautioned by Busia council of elders that he might lose support in the region if he doesn’t intervene in standoff between governor Sospeter Ojamoong’ and MP Paul Otuoma.
The elders want Funyula legislator, Otuoma, to be given the party gubernatorial ticket saying he is the one who won in the nominations.
Speaking to journalists in Funyula, Samia sub-county, the elders led by former Knut national chairman George Wesonga threatened to mobilise the residents to protest if Otuama would not be handed the part ticket.
“The people of Busia came out and spoke in one voice that Paul Otuoma is their next governor but the party seems to go against that will. We want to tell the Orange House that unless they give Otuoma his certificate by tomorrow (Tuesday), we shall follow where he will go and mobilise the whole county to continue supporting him as they did during the nominations.”
They warned Raila of dire consequences if he imposes Ojaamong’ for the seat.
"In the last general election Raila got over 98 percent of the total votes in Busia but that figure will not be realised again if he imposes Ojaamong' as the ODM candidate against the wish of the people," they stated, Monday.
They demanded Ojaamong' be disqualified claiming he participated in electoral malpractices.
The ODM election board insists the nomination exercise would be repeated in Teso North and Teso South constituencies.