Shock as Orange party revokes MPs’ nominations
Two incumbent lawmakers in Nyanza region have suffered a huge blow after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) revoked their nomination tickets.
Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo suffered political setback after the party nullified his nomination on Sunday.
In a statement, the party, through its official Facebook handle, said it had resolved to instead issue a direct ticket.
“Following consultation of the Central Committee, the nomination exercise conducted in Gem constituency on the April 13 is hereby nullified,” the statement read.
Odhiambo was declared the winner with 7,405 votes in the primaries that was conducted through universal suffrage.
His only challenger, Jalang’o Midiwo got 6,384. Jalang’o had unsucessfully appealed against Odhiambo’s victory, citing violence and irregularities during the voting exercise.
The ODM Appeals Tribunal sitting in Kisumu withheld the nomination of Odhiambo last week but Jalang’o applied for a review.
However, it has now emerged that ODM nullified Odhiambo’s victory.
Though ODM did not state who was to be issued the direct ticket, reports indicated that Jalang’o is going to be handed the ticket.
Jalang’o is the elder brother to the late former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and cousin to ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
Yesterday, the party also indicated that it had nullified the Muhoroni constituency nominations results and withdrawn interim certificate to area MP Onyango K’Oyoo.
K’Oyoo beat four other contenders to clinch the ODM ticket with 4,043 votes.
He was followed by Hezron McObewa who got 3,317 while former Kisumu Assembly Majority Leader Samuel Ong’ow came third with 1,081 votes.
Reports over nullification of K’Oyoo’s nomination sparked protests in the constituency from irate residents who expressed displeasure with the move.
Meanwhile, the uncertainties shrouding ODM flagbearer in Ugenya constituency has finally been resolved after a former treasury economist, Dr Daniel Odhiambo, was awarded the certificate.
New development
Following the new development, ODM officials in Ugenya called on their supporters to join hands to ensure the seat, currently held by the Movement for Democracy and Development party leader David Ochieng reverts back to the Orange party.
Addressing supporters ahead of a roadshow across the constituency, Ugenya ODM chairman Darlington Mduda said they will work hard to ensure they wrestle the seat from Ochieng.
He said that as party officials, they will urge the electorate to vote in ODM candidates.
Women leader, Carren Ayika, called for peaceful campaigns in Ugenya, adding that it was time to have the parliamentary seat revert to ODM.
Odhiambo thanked the ODM headquarters for bestowing on him the honour to fly the party flag, adding that he was in touch with his opponents during the nominations so that they could join hands to forge a strong team.
He also asked ODM supporters to forget the differences that could have emerged during the primaries and reiterated that his team will campaign on the six-piece voting pattern.
“We will campaign as ODM, not Azimio-One Kenya alliance because of the political dynamics of Ugenya,” he said, adding “Ugenya seat has been away for long, and we must return it to ODM.”
