[Funyula MP Paul Otuoma and Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong during a past function. The two are involved in a battle for the Busia County ODM Party ticket]
The Orange Democratic Movement elections board says they will have to repeat nominations in Busia, but only in Teso North and Teso South.
The party has dismissed Otuoma’s insistence that the exercise should not be repeated, and should instead be given the ticket despite the irregularities that marred the exercise.
The party says the repeat of the nominations is mandatory, according to the nominations rules deposited with the IEBC.
The two areas of Teso North and South are said to have been hit the most with irregularities.
“The nomination rules indicate that we should have results that are allowed, expect us to have announced the winner, but when you decide to have such issues, the only option is to repeat,” said Judy Pareno, ODM Elections Board Chair.
The contest, which will be between Paul Otuoma and Sospeter Ojaamong will be officiated by new officers.
Otuoma has however cried foul. In a letter to the elections board, he wants Ojaamong to be disqualified for the irregularities that were seen in Teso, saying he should be given the ticket since the irregularities were recorded in the governor’s stronghold.
The Funyula MP further observes that repeating the exercise in only two areas will not be fair to him because Ojaamong may rig the elections again.
It is also believed that the governor will be able to galvanize his supporters in the two areas, which are deemed his strongholds.
According to the results announced last week, Ojaamong garnered 44,369 votes in Teso South, and 33,349 in Teso North.
Before the results of the two constituencies came in Otuoma was leading at 62,379 votes, against Ojaamong’s 39,874.