In a shocking turn of events, a candidate vying for the Woman Representative seat in Bukedea District has found herself at the center of a disturbing electoral controversy that raises serious questions about the integrity of NRM Party’s internal structures.
The candidate, Mrs. Hellen Akol Odeke, has been denied the nomination forms required to contest in the upcoming elections, despite having paid the necessary nomination fees. In an unprecedented move, the Party’s Electoral Chairperson, DR. Tanga Odoi, flatly refused to issue the forms, stating that she was “not a party member.” The Chairperson dismissed her efforts, saying she “has just wasted her money,” thus blocking her from the nomination process altogether.
This shocking act of defiance from the party’s electoral leadership has left many scratching their heads, particularly considering that the candidate had already met all the required financial obligations for nomination. But the controversy doesn’t end there. Earlier, the candidate’s name had been inexplicably removed from the national and party voter registers, sparking immediate concern about potential electoral sabotage.Upon discovering this alarming issue, the candidate lodged a formal complaint with the Party’s Secretary General, the official custodian of NRM membership register.
The Secretary General swiftly acted on the complaint, and after a brief investigation, the candidate’s name was restored to the voter register. This platform has seen a certified copy of the register, which was issued to the candidate. However, questions remain about how the name was removed in the first place and who was responsible for this deliberate act of disenfranchisement.
What’s more troubling is the possibility that these actions are not isolated incidents but rather a coordinated effort orchestrated by the candidate’s political rival, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among.
The Speaker, a prominent figure in the party, has long been considered the front-runner in the race for the Bukedea Woman Representative seat.Sources within the party allege that the Speaker, who got nominated earlier in the day, is leveraging her position of power to manipulate the party’s electoral processes in her favor.
This raises serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the party’s internal elections, with accusations of “dirty tricks” being employed to eliminate competition. If these allegations prove true, it would cast a dark shadow over the integrity of the party’s electoral system.
The candidate’s supporters have expressed outrage, accusing the party leadership of bias and unfair treatment. They argue that the denial of nomination forms and the removal of the candidate’s name from the voter register were deliberate attempts to silence competition and secure a victory for the Speaker.Furthermore, questions about the integrity of the party’s internal structures have been raised.
If the party’s own electoral officials can engage in such blatant actions of injustice, how can voters trust the system as a whole? The party’s reputation is now at stake, with critics urging for a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure the sanctity of the electoral process is upheld.
This debacle is not just a fight between two political contenders; it is a struggle for fairness, transparency, and the right to participate in the democratic process.
The actions of the NRM Electoral Chairperson and the Speaker have left many questioning whether the party leadership is genuinely committed to upholding the principles of democracy and fairness, or whether they are more interested in consolidating power through underhanded means.
As the race for the Woman Representative seat in Bukedea District intensifies, all eyes will be on how the party handles this scandal and whether justice will prevail for the candidate whose dreams of representing her people have been so callously threatened.
