Funyula Member of Parliament Paul Otuoma, who is a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga, has issued a new ultimatum to the party over Busia gubernatorial nominations.
Speaking on Friday, Dr Otuoma stated that he might not participate in a repeat of the ODM primaries after they were cancelled over irregularities.
“There is no need in participating in the primaries when it is clear I won. I will push for my victory to be given to me,” said Otuoma.
Otuoma claimed that he should be declared the winner because his main rival, Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, who was declared the victor, had rigged the poll.
He alleged that ODM’s primaries in Busia were been marred by vote rigging, harassment and intimidation that jolted the exercise into chaos.
The MP added that he was optimistic that the will of the people of Busia would prevail and the party would announce him as the winner of the polls.
Otuoma alleged that Governor Ojaamong inflated figures in his strongholds of Teso North and South.
He pointed out that the number of those who voted in the two constituencies was higher than those who had registered, as per the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) records.
“Even the national polls have never witnessed over 100 per cent turnout. It’s a clear case of cooking of results in Teso; the over 3,000 votes I was given are part of the ballot stuffing that we spoke about,” said Otuoma.
This was, however, refuted by Governor Ojaamong who protested the decision by the party to cancel the results, describing it as hasty and suspicious.
“I can’t discuss the matter because I am yet to get an official communication from the board. How can it be that results are cancelled even before a complaint is lodged?” remarked Ojaamong.
ODM’s National Elections Board chairperson Judy Pareno nullified the results on Friday hours after the Busia elections board chair Vitalis Juma declared Ojaamong the winner despite claims of foul play, vote rigging and ballot stuffing.
