Kole | The Kole North MP race which attracted three candidates among them Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, Judith Alyek and Sam Blicks Okello ended on January 15 with the incumbent comfortably winning.
Dr Opio secured his second victory, defeating Lango Parliamentary Group chairperson Judith Alyek.
What was anticipated to be a neck-and-neck contest between Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, and Judith Alyek, turned into a decisive one-sided battle.
Results declared on Friday, January 16, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, contesting under the NRM party ticket, garnered 26,933 votes—a commanding 81% landslide victory.
Judith Alyek trailed with 5,038 votes, representing 15.2% of the vote. The UPC candidate, Sam Blicks Okello, received 1,169 votes.
According to the Kole District Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Niwasiima Rhinny, the total number of valid votes cast was 33,140.
Alyek, who stood as an Independent after losing the NRM primaries for the Woman MP seat, later chose to contest directly against the incumbent, Dr Opio.
The race drew mixed reactions, with many voters urging her to reconsider her decision.
Several attempts at intervention by high-profile NRM party officials proved futile, including a meeting convened by the President in Arua for NRM MPs who lost primaries, which Alyek declined to attend. With all options exhausted, the decision was left to the ballot.
While addressing the media after the declaration of results, the re-elected MP, Dr Opio, thanked the people of Kole North for granting him another five-year mandate to lead them.
Dr Opio secured victory in all 27 parishes, sub-counties, and the town council within the constituency, including Alito, Okwero Dot, both Aboke town council and sub-county.
With the January 15 poll defeats, Alyek has been instantly retired from active politics until at least 2031 if she wishes to take part in another election exercise.
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