The National Resistance Movemnet (NRM) election tribunal has nullified the election of Dr Tanga Odoi’s son Collin Odoi as the Chairperson of the NRM Youth League.
In a statement released by the tribunal on Monday headed by the John Musiime the panel head, the decision was reached after the tribunal cited irregularities and ruled that a fresh election must be conducted without Dr. Odoi’s involvement.
“Regulation 45(6) empowers the Tribunal, where non-compliance has substantially affected the result, to declare the election void, to declare another candidate elected, or to order a fresh election. Given the tainted tally and unreliable record, none of the petitioners can be declared duly elected”.
“The proper remedy is to nullify the election and direct a fresh poll for Chairperson of the NRM Youth League in strict compliance with the Constitution, Regulations and Guidelines” the statement read in part.
The tribunal further warned Dr Tanga Odoi from taking part in the new elections since the NRM Electoral commission being a collegiate body can fully able to proceed without him.
Tribunal orders:
1. The declaration of Mr. Collins Tanga as Chairperson, NRM Youth League, is hereby nullified.
2. The NRM Electoral Commission is directed to conduct a fresh election for Chairperson, NRM Youth League, in strict compliance with the NRM Constitution, Election Regulations, and Polling Day Guidelines.
3. Dr. Tanga Odoi shall not preside over or participate in any capacity in the conduct of the fresh election. The other commissioners in the Electoral Commission shall conduct the election of the Youth League Chairperson.
Collins Tanga was declared the winner of the NRM Youth League elections by his father Dr Tanga Odoi after he scored 1,567 votes to edge his closed competitor Brenda Kiconco who got 1,355 votes
The tribunal further castigated the unlawful exclusion of candidates, it observed that Mackline Natukwasa was announced to have withdrawn without presenting the mandatory written and witnessed letter required under Regulation 32, while another candidate, Wilson Otto, was completely excluded from the line-up.
“The omission of Natukwasa and Otto therefore disenfranchised their supporters and materially undermined the credibility of the poll,” the panel found.
The nullification of the Collins Tanga’s election and barring of his father Tanga Odoi, the NRM Election Chairperson from participating in the election further deals a huge blow to the NRM electoral process which has recently come under much scrutiny.
