CORD likely to name flag-bearer for 2017 early next year, says Mbadi

Leaders Hon. Raila Odinga, Hon Kalonzo Musyoka and Sen. Moses Wetangula prepare for a CORD Parliamentary Group Meeting today at Ufungamano House on 23rd August,2016-BEVERLYNE MUSILI

The Opposition won’t name its presidential flag bearer this year, a top ODM official has said.CORD co-principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula are still in talks and are waiting for more key political figures from other outfits to join them,said ODM chairman John Mbadi.

Mbadi said the earliest the Opposition could name its candidate is early next year.A source within CORD’s innercircle, however, said CORD was playing a game of wits waiting for Jubilee to show all its cards.

“The strategy is to pull a surprise. This is why CORD principals  are not in a hurry,” said the source. Mbadi confirmed CORD had been engaged in talks with Amani

National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi over the possibility of joining the Opposition coalition.

The main Opposition coalition, CORD, may not name its presidential candidate for the 2017 elections this year.

This is despite much pressure from the ruling coalition, Jubilee, to do so.

A top official of ODM party, which is member of CORD over the weekend said the earliest the Opposition could name its candidate would be early next year.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi said CORD's three principals; Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang'ula were still engaged in important consultations and were waiting for more key political figures from other parties and coalitions to join them before agreeing on the candidate.

A source within CORD's inner circles said the coalition was playing a game of wits by waiting for Jubilee to show all its cards.

"The strategy is to pull a surprise. This is why the principals are not in a hurry," said the source.

Mr Mbadi also confirmed that the Opposition coalition had been engaged in active and useful talks with Amani Party leader Musalia Mudavadi over the possibility of bringing him on board, but he failed to disclose the nature of the talks.

"As ODM, we have been pitching for our leader Raila Odinga to carry the CORD flag because we believe he is the best. Other parties within the coalition have also been campaigning for their leaders. Eventually, we will agree on who should be our candidate," Mbadi said in Rongo  during a church service.

He added: "All parties will sit together and give a joint presidential flag bearer but it will not be within this year. For ODM, our choice is Raila, because we believe he is the most suited to remove Uhuru and Ruto from power."

He said there was nothing unique in CORD holding talks with Mudavadi, who is ODM's former deputy party leader, saying Raila and his colleagues have held meetings with many other like-minded political leaders.

"I want to confirm that ODM and CORD by extension has held talks with Musalia Mudavadi in a bid to actualise their objective of removing Jubilee from power," said Mbadi.

He added: "The coalition has held talks with other like-minded individuals who feel disgruntled by the ruling coalition. All parties forming CORD are fronting their party leaders to be the coalition's flag bearer and if Amani comes on board, we also expect them to ask us to support Mudavadi and this is normal."

CORD has been under pressure from some of its MPs to name its flag bearer to give room for well-planned campaigns. Unlike Jubilee that has settled on President Uhuru, CORD was still studying the political landscape. Elections are scheduled for August 8, next year.

Reports of  Mudavadi's meetings with Raila and his alleged plans to join CORD sparked  political anxiety within the coalition with some ODM MPs warning that he will not be allowed to take the presidential ticket on a silver plate.

The MPs have insisted that Mudavadi will have to contest for the ticket alongside other CORD principals.