ODM warns 'errant' members against snubbing anti-IEBC demos
What you need to know:
- ODM chairman John Mbadi said the party was contemplating whipping its members, more so MCAs and MPs who have always shunned Cord’s weekly anti-IEBC demonstrations.
- He told party elected officials that they were under obligation to toe the line by joining the push for electoral reforms or face dire consequences in the next ODM party primaries.
- The Suba MP told ODM supporters to reject the rebels during the next primaries.
The Orange party will take disciplinary action against MPs who do not participate in protests against the electoral commission.
ODM chairman John Mbadi said the party was contemplating whipping its members, more so MCAs and MPs who have always shunned Cord’s weekly demonstrations to force out officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“As the party chairman, I have the authority and powers to instil discipline against errant members and forge unity between the officials and members hence will not hesitate to invoke some of the powers bestowed upon me,” he said on Saturday at Kadongo when he opened the local ODM office.
Mr Mbadi also warned against wrangling among the party’s recently elected grassroots officials.
“We cannot build the party through constant fights. I am telling those who were defeated in the party grassroots elections to swallow their pride and support the duly elected officials.”
He told party elected officials they were under obligation to toe the line by joining the push for electoral reforms or face dire consequences in the next ODM party primaries.
The Suba MP told ODM supporters to reject the rebels during the next primaries.
JUBILEE BRIGADE
“We cannot forge ahead in pushing for the IEBC disbandment if some of our members are pulling in different directions. Let our supporters deal with those considered disloyal to the party come next nominations,” Mr Mbadi said.
Mr Mbadi said some ODM lawmakers, including one from Homa Bay, were recently spotted at Afraha Stadium with the Jubilee brigade attending Madaraka Day celebrations at the expense of the CORD rally at Uhuru park.
“As a party we have taken great exception at the conduct of such MPs, who should forget about the party ticket come 2017,” he said.
Earlier, Kabondo Kasipul MP Silvance Osele had asked the national chairman to intervene and resolve the persistent wrangles over leadership in the branch.
“We cannot continue converting funerals into platforms for fighting over party leadership yet elections had been concluded several months ago,” he said.
Mr Osele told the Jubilee administration to respect Raila in his push for IEBC reforms, arguing that the latter had held senior leadership positions in the country including being a former prime minister.
