Sunday, January 20, 2013

How Chaotic Polls Could Hurt ODM in Nyanza



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ODM risks massive petitions over the controversialparty primaries in its Nyanza strongholds, particularly in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties, where it emerged that consensus was used in some areas to pick candidates.

The Orange party’s National Elections Board also ordered repeat polls and in some areas including Migori County, the exercise went past midnight on Friday, contravening the Elections Act, which stipulated January 18 as the final day of nominations.

On Saturday, some constituencies defied the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) warning that no nomination would be accepted past Friday midnight, and went ahead with the process.

But ODM party headquarters, aware of the consequences, warned in a statement that it had not sanctioned nominations on Saturday and any conducted were void.

Rivals could contest the party had not validly nominated its candidates in the affected regions, which if proven by the IEBC could have some ODM nominees disqualifyed.

On Saturday, some aspirants protested at the alleged fl awed nominations, and announced they had sought tickets from other parties oblivious of the IEBC directive that anyone who had not secured a ticket on Friday midnight had technically been locked out.

The aspirants sought alternative tickets after the contentious night voting in Kisumu, Migori, and Homa Bay counties. Former MP Shakeel Shabbir, who claimed to have won the Kisumu East ODM ticket, said the returning officer could not be reached to announce the results.

Shabbir said efforts to seek party headquarters’ intervention had been fruitless.

In Homa Bay County, some politicians and security personnel allegedly agreed on who to declare winners for the various positions, as their counterparts in other constituencies grappled with what to do next.

Returning Officer John Mulehi said they agreed to have former Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang’ as the Senate ODM flag bearer, Philip Okundi (Governor), and Roselyne Onyuka (Women Representative).

Gentleman’s deal

“We agreed on consensus and the party head office allowed us to fi le the results,” Mulehi told The Standard On Sunday. Hillary Alila, a senate candidate, defected to PDP.

The closed-door consensus meeting was allegedly attended by former MPs Augustino Neto, Millie Odhiambo, John Mbadi, candidates who won the ODM ticket for various seats, Ongondo Were, Silvan Osele, Everest Okambo, and Judith Omogi.

On Saturday, it was surprising to see Mulehi, who had been roughed up by voters on Thursday afternoon, release the results in Migori constituency instead of Homa Bay.

“The security team in Homa Bay County and ODM headquarters agreed I release the results in Rongo town instead because of security reasons,” said Mulehi.

He said the group agreed on consensus because no repeat poll was conducted in Suba, Homa Bay,

Town, Mbita, Rangwe and Kabondo Kasipul constituencies as Elections Board chair Franklin Bett ordered.

Bett had ordered repeat polls in the areas following reports of irregularities.

The areas included: Nyakach, Muhoroni, Nyando, Kisumu Town West, Seme, and Kisumu West constituencies.

In Kisumu, aspirants for all posts in the affected areas refused to have the repeat on Thursday night. They demanded the ballot papers and boxes be kept in police stations.

This forced candidates like former Nyakach MP Ochieng’ Daima to petition ODM over failure to hold repeat nominations.

Of 80 polling stations in Nyakach, there was no nominations in 20, and in those that saw people vote, there were irregularities.

On Saturday, those who had no idea of the clause on party nomination setting the midnight deadline were shocked when the reality hit them.

Former Kisumu West MP Olago Oluoch, aspirants from the constituency, and supporters carried the voting materials in the company of police officers and the returning officer to the area.

In St Alloys Ojola Primary School polling station, voting was still going on with voters waiting to exercise their democratic right up to 4pm.

“We have been voting since 11am and if ODM decides to impose a candidate on us, we will vote for a candidate from a different party in March,” said Joseph Odhiambo. - The Standard

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