Police has said it will charge Lucy Achiro, the new Aruu North Member of Parliament with destruction of ballot boxes.
On Monday morning, Aciro together with her supporters allegedly destroyed ballot boxes at Pader Central police.
The votes were meant to be recounted after Aciro’s opponent in the Aruu North parliamentary seat Nabinson Kidega Nock sought and got a court order authorising a recount. Acire beat Kidega with a difference of only two votes.
Aciro and her supporters allege the ballot papers had already been tampered with.
Pader District Police Commander Romeo Onek Ojara said Aciro’s camp had been allowed at the police premises to witness loading of ballot boxes into the electoral commission vehicles before being transported for recount at Pader court premises which is only a few metres away from the police premises.
However, Ojara said he was shocked by the actions of Aciro and her supporters who suddenly started throwing ballot boxes off the electoral commission vehicle and destroyed the seals.
The DPC said Aciro and her supporters will be charged with destruction of the voting materials. But the police did not make any arrests after the incident. But it recorded a statement from Aciro’s lawyer, Odonga- Otto who is also the Aruu South Member of Parliament.
Polling stations whose ballot boxes were destroyed were: Omeny-kimac, Porogali PTC, Ogago P.7 school and Alim polling stations.
Pader district returning officer, Joseph Omona dismissed claims that the ballot boxes had been tampered with as alleged by Aciro and her supporters.
Omona said the boxes had been kept in a secure location at Pader Central Police after declaration of the results on February 19.
Kidega Appeals To High Court
Lawyers representing Nabinson Kidega Nock have meanwhile rushed to the High Court to seek a recount of the Aruu North votes. Kidega’s two lawyers, Jude Ogik of Ogik and Company Advocates and Okidi Ladwar of Ladwar and Company Advocates, arguing that the actions of Acire and her supporters is against the court order which had authorized a recount of the votes.
