Ex-Funyula Paul Otuoma has warned ODM against any attempt to tamper with the Busia gubernatorial nominations, saying the party will face unspecified consequences.
Speaking in Busia Town on Saturday, April 9, the vocal politician said he will not accept being shortchanged by the party as it did in the 2017 party primaries.
He reminded the Raila Odinga-led party that bungling the nomination exercise might precipitate violence.
“Si nyinyi mnakumbuka mambo 2017, sisi tungekuwa wabaya hii town ingechomeka (You remember what happened in 2017, had we been bad people this town would have been consumed by fire)” Otuoma said.
The former lawmaker called on ODM to ensure the exercise is free and fair unlike what happened in 2017 where violence was witnessed after ODM declared Sospeter Ojaamong the winner in the highly disputed party nomination exercise.
“The minimum we expect from ODM is free and fair nomination, we will not accept sham elections where someone just reads figure. Let no one try those tricks again, because they will meet fire with fire” Otuoma warned.
Otuoma will be battling out with the current Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua for the coveted gubernatorial ODM ticket.
Busia being the stronghold of Raila Odinga, it is expected that whoever wins the ODM nomination stands a high chance of emerging the winner come August 9.
As Otuoma issues demands for a free and fair nomination exercise, already some counties are witnessing demonstrations over the decision by ODM to issue direct tickets to a number of aspirants in its strongholds.
In Homa Bay County, rowdy youth barricaded the roads, lighting up born fires and burning tires, further calling on former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to rescind the party’s decision to issue Woman Representative Gladys Wanga with a direct ticket for the gubernatorial seat.
In Mombasa County, the ODM primaries were marred by chaos and confusion over allegations of voter importation and system breakdown.
For the Mombasa gubernatorial seat, the party is still facing opposition from businessman Suleiman Shahbal over its plan to give his rival a direct ticket.
