Simon Toolit Akecha, the former Forum for Democratic Change party candidate for Omoro has said he will today afternoon drag the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP elect for Omoro County Jacob Oulanyah to court for alleged rigging in the recent parliamentary race.
Toolit says he will sue Oulanyah jointly with Electoral Commission (EC).
Speaking to Acholi Times today morning, Toolit said he wants the elections nullified due to what he described as ‘‘massive rigging.’’
“I want the declaration of the election of Jacob Oulanyah as directly elected Member of Parliament for Omoro County in Gulu district declared null and void and be set aside. I also demand that fresh election be conducted in the Omoro County Gulu District in accordance with the law,’’ Toolit said.
Toolit said his lawyers have collected enough evidence to challenge the declaration of the Jacob Oulanyah winner by the EC.
‘‘Benson Obete, the Returning Officer of Electoral Commission Gulu came up with some figures which are not based on the actual votes cast at polling stations. The declaration form does not show the number of polling stations of the announced results.’’
‘‘He [Obete] declared Oulanyah Jacob Collins who did not participate in the Omoro County Parliamentary race as the winner. He did not state which electoral area the winner announced belongs to. He did not state his name on the form,” Toolit argued.
Toolit said he had abandoned his initial plant to have the votes counted saying he now wants the results of Omoro County annulled and fresh elections held due to many irregularities.
“The Gulu Returning officer delayed the election results and some of the ballot boxes were found hours after others were tallied,” he said.
According to results released by the EC, Oulanyah who is also the incumbent Omoro County MP polled 8,218 votes while his rival Toolit polled 6,823 votes.
Toolit notes that contrary to Section 12(1) (b) of Electoral Commission Act (Cap140), the Returning Officer failed to control the use of ballot papers as a result there was massive rigging, pre-ticking of ballot papers for voters and manipulation of the Declaration of Results Forms in favour of Jacob Oulanyah.
He alleged that the Sub-county Supervisor of Lalogi Sub-county Francis Oyet was found cutting off sealed boxes and stuffing manipulated Declaration of Results Forms at Lalogi Police Post.
“Out of the twenty three boxes, three boxes were found opened and bundles of seals, a pair of scissor and manipulated Declaration of Results Forms were found in his possession” the FDC boss says.
Obete the Gulu returning officer when contacted said that he tallied and declared the true results for Omoro county race.
