A section of Members of Parliament (MPs) from Acholi sub region have called for fresh elections of the new executives members of Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) describing the recent elections which saw Prof Ogenga Latigo elected as Chairperson as fraudulent.
Acholi Parliamentary Group is a caucus that brings together MPs from Acholi Sub-region.
Since May this year, the group halted the election of new leaders due to the numerous court cases that some of its members were battling at the time.
On Wednesday last week, Prof Ogenga Latigo, the MP for the new Agago North constituency in Agago district was elected chairperson of the group in the 10th Parliament replacing the Aswa County MP, Reagan Okumu.
Lilly Adong, Woman MP for Nwoya District was elected Vice Chairperson replacing Dorine Oketayot Lowila, the Pader District Woman MP who was the former Vice Chairperson in the 9th Parliament.
Other newly elected members are; Molly Lanyero, the Lamwo Woman MP, as the treasurer, MP Gilbert Olanya who maintained his position as the General Secretary, and Oscar Omony Otema, the Youth MP for Northern region, who was appointed secretary for mobilization and publicity.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who also doubles as MP for Omoro County in the new Omoro District, Jacob Oulanyah, was elected as patron of the group.
However MPs led by Anthony Akol for Kilak North County in Amuru district said the meeting which was called to elect new executive members was illegal since proper procedure was not followed.
Addressing journalists on Sunday in Gulu town, Akol explained that the only person who has the powers to call for such a meeting are members of the executive which includes the Chairperson, the Vice or any other members of the executive but not any other ordinary member. Akol said those who called the meeting which saw Prof Latigo elected Chairperson are none of the three.
According to Akol, it should have been either Reagan Okumu or his Vice, Dorine Lowila Oketayot to dissolve the current executive before any election is conducted. Akol also said that members were invited to the meeting by SMS on Wednesday morning, the very day of the elections.
His criticism of the election, Akol says, is not because he is against Prof Ogenga Latigo being elected as the Chairperson but that he wants things to be done a more organized to correct some unnamed problems which he claims affected the organization in the 9th parliament.
The APG meeting which saw Latigo elected Chair was reportedly convened by Kilak County MP Gilbert Olanya who resigned as Secretary General of APG in 2013.
But Dorine Lowila Oketayot, the former Vice Chairperson dismissed Akol’s claim saying nothing was violated in the group’s constitution and that quorum was realized for the election.
Lowila said she is surprised that Akol who attended the meeting although he (Akol) came in late is complaining. Lowila added that if Akol was interested in any position, he (Akol) should have made it known to members.
Lowila also said that the election was long overdue adding that she is happy that the finally has a new leadership.
Chua East MP, Polly Phillips Okin said any challenges being faced after the election can be resolved internally instead of involving the press.
Gilbert Olanya, the General Secretary who retained his seat says anyone who is not satisfied with the elections should file a complaint in court.
