Chanzu, Amadi fight for ANC ticket for Vihiga top seat

Musalia Mudavadi-led Amani National Congress (ANC) has narrowed down the race for Vihiga governorship contest to two aspirants ahead of its primaries set for April 3.

Party Secretary General Godfrey Osotsi told Nation on Tuesday that Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu and Eng Josephat Amadi, a new entrant in politics, will fight for the party's ticket.

Whoever will emerge with ANC ticket, Mr Osotsi said, will face the incumbent, Mr Moses Akaranga and ODM's Dr Wilbur Otichillo (Emuhaya MP), Mr Kennedy Butiko (UDP) and Ms Hellen Otolo (Independent) during the August 8 polls.

Mr Chanzu is an experienced politician having served as an MP for three terms while Eng Amadi has openly displayed his muscle for money, a move he believes will endear him to the over 246,000 voters.

The party, that is dominant in the region, will also present two aspirants to fight for the county's senate seat in a move that has already stirred up campaigns in the rural county, a fortnight to ANC primaries in Vihiga.

In the race for the senatorial position, Mr Osotsi said, is the incumbent Mr George Khaniri and the 2013 governorship candidate, Dr Jairus Amayi.

However the race for the party's ticket for the Sabatia and Hamisi parliamentary seats is almost decided as each of the two constituencies has only one aspirant with no opponents seeking the party's ticket.

Mr Alfred Agoi, Sabatia MP, and an aspirant for the Hamisi seat, Mr Nelson Muturi, will get a direct ticket from the party.

Further, Mr Agoi's fortunes seem to be growing as no other party has aspirants willing to oust him.

Mr Osotsi said Mr Tom Alwaka and Mr Arthur Apungu will fight for ANC ticket for Luanda constituency as Kuppet Chairman Mr Omboko Milemba and Mr Otalo Nyamanga wrestle each other for the Emuhaya parliamentary seat.

Vihiga constituency has attracted three aspirants, Mr Ernest Kagesi, Mr Wilberforce Kitiezo and Mr Voltaya Kegode.

"No one from areas that are hotly contested will be given a direct ticket. All aspirants must embrace competition. No politician has power to issue tickets," assured Mr Osotsi.