In short
Robert Okumu, Nebbi’s controversial district chairman was on Thursday thrown out of office after the high court in Arua ruled that he had been illegally declared chairman in the February 2011 elections.
Robert Okumu, Nebbi’s controversial district chairman was on Thursday thrown out of office after the high court in Arua ruled that he had been illegally declared chairman in the February 2011 elections.
The electoral commission first declared Esrom William Alenyo winner but Okumu went to court citing irregularities and asked for a recount. Arua chief magistrates’ court ordered a recount in which Okumu was declared winner and was consequently gazetted by the electoral commission. The same commission had however also gazetted Alenyo.
Alenyo had polled 26,990 votes in the elections against Okumu’s 26,908 votes. But after the vote recount Okumu obtained 27,195 votes against of Alenyo’s 26896.
Alenyo petitioned court to annul Okumu’s results arguing that both the recount and the gazette were illegal.
High Court judge, Yasin Nyanzi ruled that the actions of the Electoral commission after 11th March 2011 were invalid because it had first declared Alenyo as the legitimate winner before gazetting Okumu. He said Okumu was invalidly gazetted and the electoral commission had no legal document to gazette him after initially declaring Alenyo winner.
After the ruling, Okumu said that it was the court which declared him winner and it is the same court which has removed him from the seat adding that he will appeal against the decision.
The electoral commission first declared Esrom William Alenyo winner but Okumu went to court citing irregularities and asked for a recount. Arua chief magistrates’ court ordered a recount in which Okumu was declared winner and was consequently gazetted by the electoral commission. The same commission had however also gazetted Alenyo.
Alenyo had polled 26,990 votes in the elections against Okumu’s 26,908 votes. But after the vote recount Okumu obtained 27,195 votes against of Alenyo’s 26896.
Alenyo petitioned court to annul Okumu’s results arguing that both the recount and the gazette were illegal.
High Court judge, Yasin Nyanzi ruled that the actions of the Electoral commission after 11th March 2011 were invalid because it had first declared Alenyo as the legitimate winner before gazetting Okumu. He said Okumu was invalidly gazetted and the electoral commission had no legal document to gazette him after initially declaring Alenyo winner.
After the ruling, Okumu said that it was the court which declared him winner and it is the same court which has removed him from the seat adding that he will appeal against the decision.
