Those whose nomination was cancelled include Sophie Malinga, Dinah Eveline Akongot, Jessica Asio, Naume Ekwenare, Ketty Akello, and Mary Goretti Kitaka. According to the Electoral Commission, all the six had discrepancies in their paperwork, which upon scrutiny led to a conclusion that they were erroneously nominated.
The Electoral Commission has overturned the nomination of six
candidates in the Bukedea Woman MP race. This implies that the incumbent MP Anita Among remains unopposed in the race that had initially attracted seven candidates.
Those whose nomination was cancelled include Sophie
Malinga, Dinah Eveline Akongot, Jessica Asio, Naume Ekwenare, Ketty Akello,
and
Mary Goretti Kitaka. According to the Electoral Commission, all the six
had discrepancies in their paperwork, which upon scrutiny led to
a conclusion that they were erroneously nominated.
Paul
Bukenya, the Electoral Commission Spokesman said that Sophie Malinga was wrongfully nominated to contest for the seat because the Commission had received a court order against her nomination based on discrepancies in her names. The order
which was issued long before the nomination had been missed by the Returning officer.
Another candidate Naume Ekwenare had been nominated for two elective positions. According to Bukenya, she first presented herself for nomination in the race for the district councillor, and later for the woman MP seat. Bukenya says, the latest nomination is now cancelled, and the candidate will be retained in the councillors race.
Two
others; Jessica Asio and Dinah Eveline Akongot had presented fake lists
of seconders. But Akongot, says that although she had not received any
communication about nullifying her nomination, the NRM camp, to which
Anita Among belongs,
attempted to bribe her seconder with four million Shillings to denounce
her.
//Cue in; “One of my...
Cue out...why did he nominate me.”//
Similarly, Asio says her proposer and seconder denounced her after
nomination, raising suspicion that they had been bought off to change their mind about her candidature.
//Cue in; “So for me...
Cue out...called us.”//
Ketty Akello, one of the candidates whose nomination was
overturned is now demanding a probe into the matter and wonders how the Commission only found fault in the nomination of all
other candidates apart from Anita Among.
//Cue in; “A person like me...
Cue out...the NIN numbers.”//
Among's nomination was questioned by two
voters who petitioned the Electoral Commission over inconsistency in names. They argue that her academic documents bear the names Annet and not Anita. But the commission said that the matter is still under investigation.
During nominations, three other aspirants including Hellen
Akol Odeke of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change-FDC, Merab Amongin and Christine Akello- all independents were blocked
by the Electoral Commission officials over alleged inconsistencies in names,
court cases and academic qualification.
Among sailed through the NRM primaries unopposed after Merab Amongin who was challenging her was imprisoned for selling
unclassified drugs and running an illegal drug shop.
