Ojaamong slams unprepared ODM for nullifying his victory

Busia Governor, Sospeter Ojaamong, has lambasted the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party National Elections Board for nullifying the county gubernatorial primaries results hours after he had been declared the winner saying that candidates had committed a lot of efforts and resources towards the exercise.

Ojaamong said that it was unorthodox for results to be cancelled without an official complaint adding that the candidates are even yet to meet their agents to be briefed on the conduct of the exercise.

“It is unfair to party members. If they are not ready to conduct the elections let them tell people and prepare properly. But otherwise we were not satisfied with what transpired,” said Ojaamong

Ojaamong aired his misgivings while receiving a provisional party ticket from the returning officer in charge of the exercise.

The Busia County elections board chairman, Joseph Vitalis Juma, gave the exercise a clean bill of health adding the National Elections Board retains the discretion to nullify or uphold the results in case they are challenged.

Juma, however, remained adamant that he and his team conducted the nominations exercise to the best of their ability.

“We couldn’t have conducted the exercise any better,” he said.

Governor Ojaamong expressed confidence in winning a repeat nomination at whichever date the National Elections Board deems fit.

In cancelling the exercise, the ODM National Elections Board, pointed at massive irregularities that marred the exercise.

Ojaamong had been declared the winner with 92,358 votes against Paul Otuoma’s 63,752 votes.

Otuoma had vowed to contest the results up to the office of party leader Raila Odinga saying Ojaamong engaged in blatant rigging.

According to official results announced, Ojaamong had garnered a total of 77,758 from the two Teso constituencies against Otuoma’s 4,660.