Last Updated on: 15th September 2021, 02:05 pm
Soroti City West Div: MP Ebwalu wins election petition
By Robert Edwomu
Soroti – 15, September 2021: The Soroti High Court has dismissed with costs the election petition filed by Ann Grace Ameco and Anor challenging the victory of Soroti City West Division Member of Parliament Jonathan Ebwalu.
Ameco had challenged Ebwalu’s victory on grounds that his election victory was marred by illegalities which include voter bribery, multiple voting, ballot stuffing and intimidation, among others.
The petitioner stated that the election that saw Ebwalu emerged winner was not organized in accordance with the principles laid down in the 1995 Elections Act.
The Judgement that was prepared by Lady Justice Ann Mugenyi, the Soroti High Court Judge was delivered by her Worship Jesica Chemeri the Soroti High Court Registrar.
Delivering the verdict, she averred that the 500 voters that the petitioner claimed and was backing up her petition failed to prove they were registered voters of Soroti City West Constituency.
The 500 also filed uncertified copies of voter slips which the Court discovered.
Court also found that the numbers attached in voter’s slips and signatures did not reach the 500 as claimed.
Evans Ochieng, Ebwalu’s Lawyer says from day one the petition had gaps that couldn’t succeed and have the MP’s win annulled.
Court on the other hand found out that the petition was not supported by signatures of the registered voters as by section 60 of the Parliamentary Election Act.
Ebwalu’s Wednesday verdict came just weeks after his counterpart, Moses Okia Attan of Soroti City East Division’s victory was successfully challenged in the High Court by his rival, Herbert Edmund Ariko.
Ariko is the current Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the Office of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.