ODM sees Jubilee hand in Migori gubernatorial mini-election

Outgoing Migori Governor Okoth Obado addresses his supporters after the Court of Appeal in Kisumu nullified his election. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

NAIROBI, KENYA: Suna East MP Junet Mohamed wants ODM Party to give direct nomination to Prof Edward Oyugi should the gubernatorial seat be declared vacant.

Mohamed cautioned that if Oyugi is subjected to any nomination exercise, Jubilee government might infiltrate the process and wreck the party from within.

"ODM should not subject Prof Oyugi to any nomination exercise. It has always been a tradition in the party that if a member successful wins a court petition, he is given direct ticket. If the party allows a nomination, the Jubilee might infiltrate the process," said Mohamed.

The lawmaker warned the parties forming Jubilee to stay away from the ODM affairs in the upcoming mini-elections and concentrate on their candidates.

He said that if the party feels like fielding a candidate in the Migori Governor's by-election, it should do so on it's on and not infiltrate ODM affairs.

"Let Jubilee field its candidates and meet in the ballot. They should look for their own candidates and field in the by-election. ODM must be weary of Jubilee's hand in the Migori," added Mohamed.

He said that Prof Oyugi had undergone nomination exercise and was the flag-bearer and it would be in bad taste if he is subjected to another nomination saying that those who are proponents of nomination are enemies of the party.

Another senior politician who did not want to be named said that Oyugi has sacrificed much of his valuable time, loss of jobs and family, in the struggles for the law reform, democratic space in this country and as such deserves to be considered for a legislative elective position.

"In any by-election that has resulted from a court petition, the petitioner is always given a direct nomination. The Mathare Constituency aspirant will be given a direct nomination and even for Prof Oyugi should not be different," said the politician.

The county that has over 60 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have already stated that despite the ruling the County will continue to deliver services to the residents.

ODM leaders in Migori have warned that any aspirant found to be hell-bent in maligning any of the perceived rivals could face the party wrath.

Migori County has eight parliamentary constituencies, namely Kuia East, Kuria West, Migori East, Migori West, Nyatike, Uriri, Awendo and Rongo.

Voters in Migori are already drumming up support for the former political detainee and political strategist Oyugi to battle it out with any other aspirants from other parties.

However, Obado Monday indicated that he is set to file his appeal to the Court of Appeal ruling to the Supreme Court seeking to stop Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from conducting a mini-poll after the Appellate Court nullified his election.

Last week, a three-judge bench sitting in Kisumu made a ruling that the tallying errors realised in the election compromised the qualityof an election that aspirants and voters in Migori County deserved.

The case originated from a petition filed at the High Court by Obado's arch-rival Prof Oyugi who vied on an ODM ticket.

Obado vied for the position on an Omingo Magara's People Democratic Party (PDP) which is in a post-election coalition arrangement with Jubilee government.

Prof Akong'o Oyugi who hails from Suna Migori was detained alongside the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, former Kitutu Masaba MP the late George Moseti Anyona the and CORD Leader Raila Odinga and others after a long period of torture at the now infamous and defunct Nyayo Torture Chambers.