Patmoz
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) County Party elections in Busia descended into chaos today after a group of youths, allegedly linked to Governor Paul Otuoma, stormed the venue, physically assaulting party officials and ejecting delegates. The disruption has led to calls for the nullification of the entire exercise.
According to eyewitnesses and delegates, the attackers, reportedly mobilized from Funyula and Samia, physically assaulted officials from the party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC).
The assault was followed by Governor Otuoma’s declaration that he had been elected the new ODM Busia County Chair. Otuoma was in a contest for the position against Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga.
“He drove in with more than 200 goons from his Funyula backyard who descended on NECC officials before he unilaterally declared himself Chair,” a delegate, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, told reporters. “We shall not allow him to take our party to the dogs. There were no elections in Busia, and no one participated in one.”
Disgruntled delegates are now urging the ODM National Elections Coordinating Committee to act swiftly, declare the exercise null and void, and affirm that no legitimate elections took place.
“We are asking NECC to move with speed and declare that what happened was not an election. As it stands, we will only recognize and work with the Odanga team, not Otuoma,” another delegate stated.
The incident has cast a shadow over the party’s electoral process in the region. The NECC has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident and the current status of the Busia ODM County elections.
The political future of the county’s ODM leadership now hangs in the balance as the party’s national body weighs its response to the day’s events.
