Pader NRM losers to legally challenge primary elections results

The district registrar, Simon Peter Sankara, in his response to the allegations of vote rigging, said that the elections “were free and fair”.

By Mildred Auma

Pader—5, September 2020: Two candidates who contested in the recently concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primary elections are dissatisfied with the elections outcomes.

Lawrence Odongo, Aruu North aspirant and Charles Ochora who contested in Aruu County are not contented, and they are not sleeping.

Charles Ochora told the press this morning (Saturday) that his votes were rigged in most of the newly formed sub-counties in Pader district.

According to Ochora, he expected to garner more votes than he got and therefore, “I will challenge the results in the courts of law,” he threatens.

Equally, Lawrence Odong expressed his concern to his voters who had gathered at the tallying centre Saturday morning, saying that “scores from the sub-counties of Latanya and Lapul, do not tally with the ones submitted to the agents at the different polling stations”.

Odong further said he will challenge the results as a measure to seek democratic justice.

Pader National Resistance Movement district registrar, Simon Peter Sankara in his response to the allegations of vote rigging, said that the elections were free and fair.

Also, the Pader NRM chairman, Ben Olula Ataro, appealed to the candidates to avoid making rush decisions based on the emotions they are feeling after losing elections.

Olula instead encouraged the candidates to seek reconciliation so that the party remains united to face off with opposition candidates in the 2021 general elections.

For Aruu County flag bearer, Hellen Aceng scored 6,404 votes (49.5%), emerging a winner against other contestants; Charles Ochora who garnered 5,175 votes (40%) and Godfrey Tonny Otema who garnered 1,347 votes (10.4%).

For Aruu North County seat, Lawrence Odong scored 7,416 votes (35.4%), Julius Peter Ocheng garnered 8,847 votes (42.3%) and Bernard Ology Obina scored 4658 votes (22.3%).