NORTHERN UGANDA: The Forum For Democratic Change-FDC party has fielded a new aspirant for the Omoro County Parliamentary by-election, just a day after the first one went missing.
Justine Odong Obiya, the FDC Chairperson in Omoro District, was unveiled this afternoon to replace Dick Denis Owani, who was allegedly abducted by unknown persons shortly before his nomination. Owani had been lined up for nomination on Thursday.
Kelly Komakech, the FDC party mobilizer in Acholi Sub-region, told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that Owani lost his academic credentials and couldn’t be nominated, prompting a new candidate to be fielded.
Komakech says that for now, Obiya is their official candidate, and he will get all the help he needs to win the election for the party.
In an earlier interview, FDC envoy in charge of special operations told URN that his abductors attempted to bribe Owani out of the race.Okin, however, didn’t disclose how much the alleged abductors had offered but noted that their candidate rejected the money and hinted at continuing with the contest.
The new candidate for front is expected to be nominated this afternoon by the Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Moses Kagona. So far, only one candidate, the National Movement party flag bearer Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, has so far been nominated on the second day of nomination at Omoro District Council hall in Omoro District.
The search is to replace a seat that fell vacant with the death of Jacob Oulanyah L’okori, the former speaker of Parliament who succumbed to cancer early this year.
