By KT Reporter
Kwania District National Resistance Movement-NRM Electoral Commission has suspended until further notice the election of NRM Party structure leaders following the chaos.
On Friday, NRM Party delegates drawn from the eight sub-counties and three town councils from Kwania district gathered at Ikwera Girls’ Secondary School in Aduku town council to elect the district party leaders.
The election presided over by Moses Odongo, Kwania District NRM Party Registrar, the delegates elected leaders of different Leagues and all members of the District Executive Committee, however the process turned chaotic before electing the district party chairperson.
In the Women’s League, Ejang Semmy Opio won the position of Chairperson after beating Akullo Mary Cylin with 30 votes against 20 and Betty Uhuru, who obtained 4 votes. In other Leagues, Abuk Lydia was elected Chairperson Disability League, Adoli Peter was elected Chairperson Elders’ League, Captain Patrick Matata was elected Chairperson of Veterans’ Affairs, and Odur Solomon was elected Chairperson Workers’ League.
Others were Acura Allan, elected Chairperson Youth League, and Johnson Okune was elected Chairperson Entrepreneurship League.
In the District NRM Executive Committee, Patrick Onyum Okwang, Vision Group Veteran Journalist, was elected General Secretary, Emmanuel Opio Okello, Atedero F.M Journalist, elected Publicity Secretary, Tonny Okello Finance Secretary, and Annet Atim went unopposed as the District Party Vice Chairperson after Moi Daniel, Unity F.M Journalist and his counterparty, Geoffrey Omara Ebuk, former Nambieso Sub County LC3 Chairperson, stepped down in her favour.
The election that started peacefully ended in chaos after agents of some candidates battling for the district NRM Chairperson Seat and Kwania County Member of Parliament, Tonny Ayo, reportedly started dishing out money to some delegates.
Delegates who had already lined up waiting for counting from the district NRM Electoral Commission officials started fighting and vandalised the election materials, forcing the District NRM Registrar and the RDC to flee the election ground for safety.
Arikwanga Richard Noon, Kwania Resident District Commissioner blamed the violence to primitiveness. Arikwanga said the elections of the district party chairperson will be announced within a period of one week, calling for calm from the delegates.
Patrick Onyum Okwang, who was reportedly assaulted during the chaos accused Kwania Constituency Member of Parliament Tonny Ayo of fueling conflicts during the election. He urged NRM National Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi to intervene into the matter and preside over the election of the district party Chairperson for free and fair election.
Nelson Patrick Adupa Alem, former Kwania Constituency Member of Parliament contestant, who is also one of the candidates vying for Kwania District NRM Chairperson’s Seat appealed to NRM National Electoral Commission to investigate the conduct of MP Tonny Ayo and take drastic measures against the latter.
Kwania Constituency Member of Parliament Tonny Ayo declined to respond to repeated phone calls made to him to seek his comment on the matter.
Three candidates are still battling for Kwania District NRM Chairperson’s Seat. They include Nelson Patrick Adupa Alem, Visually impaired Nelson Sadam Abili, former LCV Councillor for Disability for Apac and Lira City based prominent businessman Bosco Olulung, aka Acanadiro, the proprietor of Acanadiro Bus Company-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
