Man Jose Kayima
Court has for the second time dismissed an election petition filed against West Budama North MP, Maximus Ochai.
Richard Othieno Okoth filed a petition against Ochai accusing him of voter bribery and rigging.
Okoth had asked court to nullify Ochai’s victory citing that the Electoral Commission did not do anything to ensure a free and fair election.
In his ruling, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, dismissed the petition with costs on grounds that the evidence presented to court was “unsatisfactory” and not sufficient enough to warrantee nullification of the vote result.
“I found it strange that all accusations of election malpractices were from an area where the 1st respondent (Ochai) allegedly had great support. Nothing amiss was reported in the area where the petitioner (Okoth) appears to have had support,” Ruled Justice Kazibwe
He added,
“It would be difficult for a court to believe that supporters of one candidate behaved in a saintly manner while those of the other candidate were all servants of the devil. All in all, I have failed to find cogent evidence of the kind which is free from contradictions, truthful and compelling to the satisfaction of the court that merits the setting aside of the election of the 1st respondent as the directly-elected Member of Parliament for West Budama County North constituency. The petition is dismissed,” he ruled as quoted by the Daily Monitor.
Electoral Commission declared Ochai as the winner of the 2021 parliamentary elections after he garnered 10,981 votes against his closest contender, Mr Okoth who got 9,856 votes.
Gloria Akichere Oburu (Ind) who managed 175 votes, David Alira Pechokisika Opii (PPP) got 278 votes, George Aluka (Democratic Party) who garnered 24 votes, Peter Okello Jabwel (Ind) who garnered 784 votes and Okongo Leo (FDC) who got 85 votes were the other contestants.
