UPDATE: Friday, April 2: ODM has clarified that its party leader Raila Odinga had not submitted party nominations as announced on Wednesday.
Party Secretary-General said that the inclusion of Raila's name in the list of presidential candidates seeking the ODM ticket was an April Fool's Day joke and that only two candidates had sought the presidential ticket for 2022.
This leaves the party's deputy leaders, Ali Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, as the contestants for the ODM presidential nomination ticket.
UPDATE Thursday, April 1: ODM has postponed the vetting of its presidential candidates.
Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna said that NEB would conduct the vetting after the BBI process is concluded.
Sifuna added that the party leadership had agreed that they should focus on BBI without having any matters that are not urgent causing interference.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday, March 31, submitted his papers for the presidential ticket to the National Election Board (NEB).
Raila's move has cleared the air after a long period of silence - and speculations - as to whether he was going to run for president come 2022.
“Three party members Raila Odinga, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya have expressed interest in the party Presidential Ticket for the 2022 general election. We wish them all the best as they seek the node of the party delegates,” ODM's NEB Chairperson Catherine Muyeka Mumma said.
The ODM party leader is now set to battle it out with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his Mombasa counterpart Ali Hassan Joho both of whom have expressed interest in the ticket.
Oparanya and Joho, both of whom are deputy party leaders, were the first to submit their applications.
This will be Raila's fifth shot at the presidency if the National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Delegates Conference (NDC) decides to endorse him.
NEB is now tasked with making a decision on who will carry ODM's flag to the much anticipated 2022 general elections.
NEB is expected to either endorse one candidate or forward all the names of the presidential aspirants to NEC.
On Wednesday 31, Raila who has since recovered from Covid-19 chaired the Central Management Committee meeting at his Karen residence making it his first public appearance since contracting the disease.
The development comes amidst calls by Joho and Oparanya to have Raila give others a chance since he had unsuccessfully viewed for the president in the past.
During a recent public rally, Oparanya said that he had supported Rila long enough to warrant him to ask for the ODM party leader’s support.
“When I joined the parliament in 2002, Raila was there, and I have been with him all through. I was also part of the team that formed ODM,” stated the Kakamega governor.
Joho who is also completing his last term as the Mombasa governor has on many occasions said that he is the best candidate to represent ODM.
“Even in 2017, I spearheaded the Mombasa County ODM presidential campaigns. The overwhelming number of votes garnered by the party leader from our county prove my efforts.”
NEB is expected to give a way forward after the submission deadline ended on March 31.