The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Oburu Odinga, has hit out at party members opposing his leadership, daring them to challenge his legitimacy at the party’s upcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC).
Speaking at a funeral in Siaya County on Friday, January 9, Oburu dismissed claims that he was not validly elected, noting that he would soon convene an NDC to address the challenges facing the party.
He stressed that those opposed to his leadership should refrain from making allegations in public and instead raise them formally during the NDC, which he said would provide the best platform to address such issues.
"I challenge those who are saying that I am not validly elected. I challenge them to meet me in the National Delegates Conference, which I shall convene very soon," Oburu said.
His fiery response comes just a day after a splinter group of ODM leaders, including his sister Ruth Odinga, party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo and former Attorney General Amos Wako, among others, held a secret meeting on Thursday.
Following the meeting, the Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, expressed a strong desire to take over the leadership, saying, 'after Baba, it is Babu.'
Speaking to NTV on Thursday, the MP demanded ODM organise a National Delegate Conference (NDC), which will help him take over the party "as soon as possible".
"What we are asking is that an NDC meeting be called with immediate effect in ODM. There was no procedure whatsoever in getting the new leadership of ODM in place," Owino said.
However, in his rejoinder on Friday, Oburu said he will call for an NDC soon to end the infighting that is threatening to dismantle the party.
Oburu also addressed claims that the broad-based arrangement was only successful due to Raila Odinga's influence, insisting that he personally participated in its creation.
According to him, he chaired all negotiations between ODM and President William Ruto’s administration, including meetings that led to the appointment of Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya to the cabinet.
"This broad-based arrangement, I want to assure those who are saying it was only Raila who could handle it and that Oburu does not know anything about it," he added.
Adding, "I want to tell them that in all the meetings of the broad-based arrangement with Ruto, I have been the chairperson, including the ones which appointed Opiyo Wandayi, Mbadi and Joho to the cabinet."
Oburu further reiterated that this year, the party would formally begin negotiations for the renewal of its partnership with Ruto's administration, stating that it is the year in which ODM will determine its political future.
According to him, the party was in the process of forming a negotiation team that would engage partners within the current broad-based arrangement before reaching out to other political formations if talks fail.
"I am telling you that it will not be a very easy negotiation. It is going to be tough, and we are going to get what our share should be, and this share depends on our unity and your membership in the party," Oburu assured.
Oburu also revealed that ODM was prepared to go all alone into the next elections should the talks with other parties for a coalition fail, announcing that it would automatically make him the party's presidential candidate.
