Fresh row rocks UDF factions over post-poll pact

A United Democratic Front (UDF) faction led by nominated MP Hassan Osman has dismissed claims that the party is endearing itself to the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) ahead of the 2017 General Election.

In what could be perceived as a fresh effort by the two factions to split, party leaders continue to pull apart. The party said the UDF members, who have been stating that they have severed links with the Jubilee coalition, have been making personal statements not attributable to the party.

UDF Secretary General Abraham Limo said the party has not ditched Jubilee and that the pact signed after the 2013 General Election still remains.

Limo argued that even though they are not 100 per cent happy with how they were being treated, they have no reason to disengage from Jubilee.

"Our official position is that there is an existent coalition agreement with Jubilee and whoever is making any contrary statements is doing so at a personal level," said Limo.

Limo also told The Standard that as a party, they have not conclusively agreed to wind up and join the newly formed Jubilee Alliance Party, saying such a move would be dangerous.

Limo, who was reinstated by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) last month alongside Hassan and other officials opined that UDF is a strong unit and the bona fide officials are registered by the Registrar of Political Parties.

He said contrary to media reports that UDF was divided into two factions, one led by former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito and the other one by Hassan, the party became stronger after the ruling of the PPDT. He charged that UDF is not and will not rebrand to anything else.

But Kizito maintained he is the UDF secretary general and nobody should purport to hold that position. According to Kizito, the argument being tabled by Limo is immaterial and does not have any basis since the PPDT had ordered them to start the process of healing and reconciliation.