ODM delegates at the Mundika Nafaka Aggregation Centre in Busia County/HANDOUTA section of ODM (Orange Democratic Movement) delegates has condemned the violence and chaos that marred the party’s county elections in Busia on Friday, calling for the results to be nullified.
Led by delegate Mose Baba from Teso South, the group claimed the electoral process was marred by physical confrontations, intimidation, and lack of transparency.
“It was not an electoral ground but a battlefield where blows were exchanged,” said Baba, who was representing both Teso South and Teso North constituencies.
He accused rival groups of orchestrating disruptions and undermining the credibility of the vote.
The hotly contested Busia ODM chairmanship race saw Governor Paul Otuoma face off against incumbent Geoffrey Odanga, the MP for Matayos Constituency.
The stakes were high, and tensions boiled over into open conflict, as captured in a video seen by The Star, which showed chaotic scenes at the polling venue at Mndika Nafaka Aggregation Centre.
Otuoma has since claimed victory, with his allies urging the ODM National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) to declare him the duly elected county chair.
However, dissenting delegates argue that no credible election took place and are demanding a fresh poll.
“We want to ask the NECC to declare that no election took place in Busia. As it stands, we shall only work with the Odanga team, not Otuoma,” added Baba.
Despite the uproar, Otuoma’s camp insists the elections were fair and transparent.
“We followed the rules, and the will of the majority must be respected,” said a delegate, calling on NECC to confirm Otuoma as chair.
The NECC has yet to issue an official statement on the disputed Busia poll.
The county was among six others where elections were postponed earlier in the week due to logistical concerns.
The Busia elections were initially scheduled for Monday but were rescheduled to Friday, according to a statement by NECC chairperson Emily Awita posted on ODM’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on August 21.
Meanwhile, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, in a statement released Thursday, said that despite a few challenges, the nationwide elections had largely proceeded smoothly.
