Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general, Edwin Sifuna, on Thursday, dismissed allegations of a succession battle geared towards replacing Raila Odinga as party leader.
Sifuna stated that the party was still intact and its operations would not be disrupted by Raila's bid for the African Union Commission chairperson role.
Nonetheless, the party would always keep its members informed of any developments, soon or in the near future.
"These virtues form the basis upon which any succession or filling of vacant leadership positions is conducted. If a time ever comes for transitions within the party's leadership, we will make it public," read the ODM statement in part.
Sifuna further urged the media from peddling what he alleged was a false and skewed pseudo-analysis which were coordinated and well-choreographed to incite division within the party.
The media, he added, had created the perception of factional fights within the party over nonexistent vacancies.
He thus urged party members not to fall for the fake narratives further aimed at misleading them, especially when ODM has been conducting a nationwide membership drive ahead of grassroots elections.
“The party remains strong, focused on its mandate, and working for the masses in its role as the people's watchman,” Sifuna stated.
"We understand politics sells, especially anything revolving around the Rt Hon Odinga, but we urge that the media takes only the truth to the market."
On February 15, Raila Odinga announced his interest in the AU Commission chairman role, stating that he was the right candidate to replace Moussa Faki Mahamat whose term ends this year.
AU Special Envoy and former Nigeria president Olusegun Obasanjo endorsed Odinga and urged other African leaders to back his bid.
Two days later, the ODM party convened a meeting to endorse its party leader for the top AU job formally. While addressing the press, Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed disclosed that the party would strategise how to advance its agenda with Raila still charting the course.
