Nominations a members only affair, says ODM
ODM aspirants from Kakamega County during a meeting on nominations guidelines at Kakamega social hall on Friday. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Norah Anindo from National Elections Board, said the party register will be used during primaries as required by law.
- Andrew Toboso maintained that the law was very clear that only party registered members will be allowed to participate in the nominations.
- Kakamega County governor Wycliffe Oparanya called on aspirants to support the use of the ODM register to avoid weakening the party.
Only those registered as ODM members will be allowed to participate in its nominations, a party official has said.
Speaking in Kakamega Town after a stormy meeting with party aspirants across the county, Ms Norah Anindo from National Elections Board, said the party register will be used during primaries as required by law.
“We cannot start doing things contrary to our constitution. Only those genuinely registered members will be allowed to participate in the primaries,” she said.
The remarks followed concerns raised by various aspirants who wanted the party to adopt universal suffrage- where every person registered with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should be allowed to participate in the nominations.
“Let us use the IEBC list so that individuals registered as voters can participate and elect popular candidates,” said Mumias West MP Johnson Naica.
REGISTERED MEMBERS
But his Butere counterpart Andrew Toboso maintained that the law was very clear that only party registered members will be allowed to participate in the nominations. “If we use the IEBC list, we may end up using Jubilee people thus messing up our nominations,” he said.
County governor Wycliffe Oparanya called on aspirants to support the use of the ODM register to avoid weakening the party.
Mr Oparanya, who was among individuals given direct tickets by the party, appealed to aspirants to shun violence during the primaries which will take place on April 15.
The deputy party leader said many women in the party had shied away from contesting various seats because of violence. “No violence will be tolerated. The NEB will crack the whip on any aspirant who will be involved in any act of violence,” he said.
ACT OF VIOLENCE
Ms Anindo insisted that the ODM nominations will be free, democratic and transparent, adding that a tribunal had been formed at the county level where aspirants with complaints can report within 48 hours.
The results for MCAs and MPs, she said, will be announced at constituency level and a provisional certificate will be given by the returning officer to avoid any doubts.
“No one will chase his or her certificate in Nairobi. It will be given here in the county. We are not going to issue certificates in hotels or petrol stations,” said Ms Anindo.
