Presidential hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi has warned former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna against running party affairs as if it is a personal entity stating that ODM does not belong to an individual.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, November 2, the ODM presidential contender accused the party leadership of holding delegate congresses in boardrooms saying such moves will spoil the ODM party.
Wanjigi who has announced plans to challenge President Uhuru’s handshake partner Raila Odinga for the ODM flag bearer further asked for free and fair party primaries ahead of the 2022 General Election.
“And we are saying this; let them not spoil this party that has been there for 16 years adhering to nothing else but democracy,
“This party (ODM) does not belong to individuals or communities, it belongs to everybody,” Wanjigi said.
The Nairobi-based businessman further challenged the party leadership to immediately conduct ODM nominations within the next 60 days.
“We are praying and hoping that we have proper democratic nominations this year. This year…We don’t even want to pass another year,” he said.
This comes barely days after ODM deputy party leader and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said that the party could handpick popular party candidates in certain areas.
He said the decision has already been endorsed by the party’s top decision-making organ asserting the move is borne out of fear that external forces could infiltrate the party’s nomination exercise.
“The party has agreed to change the system of conducting primaries. We will not subject aspirants to nominations but either hand-pick or use delegates system to nominate party’s candidates,” Oparanya said.
According to Oparanya, the new system will help cut down on the cost aspirants incurred in nominations.
“We want to save them from such expenses through a cheaper process,” Oparanya said.
