Lucy Aciro Otim, the newly-elected Member of Parliament for Aruu North in Pader district has said she is ready to defend herself against accusations by her rival James Nabinson Kidega that she flouted the Parliamentary Election Act.
Aciro was dragged to court by Mr Kidega, the former Amuru Resident District Commissioner (RDC).
Kidega who was the NRM flag bearer lost to Aciro (Independent) has jointly sued her and the Electoral Commission (EC).
Through his lawyers, Kidega, asserts that he is not satisfied with how the EC conducted the elections in Aruu North and also accuses his rival of destroying votes that were scheduled to be recounted.
In February, the Kitgum Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered for a vote recount in Aruu North but this never took place as rowdy supporters of Aciro and Aruu County Member of Parliament, Odonga- Otto allegedly snatched from the police and destroyed the votes as they were being prepared for a recount at the nearby Magistrates Court in Pader.
On Friday last week, Henry Twinomugisha, the Assistant Registrar for Gulu High Court ordered that the election petition to Lucy Aciro Otim, should to be served through the noticeboard after Kidega failed to serve Aciro.
In his order dated April 15, 2016, Twinomugisha ordered that service to the first respondent (Aciro) by the petitioner be effected through pinning copy on the court noticeboard or publishing it widely on newspaper; The Monitor Newspaper or the New Vision on grounds that she (Aciro) deliberately refused to be served.
Aciro was been given ten (10) days to respond and if not, the application will be determined in her absence.
Walter Okidi Ladwar of Ladwar, Oneka & Co. Advocates, one of the lawyers for the Petitioner (Kidega) said that they have failed to serve Aciro on several occasions.
Ladwar says the best they could do is to use the media so that Aciro can file her reply in time.
In the meantime the EC, through its lawyers have already filed their response to Kidega’s petition.
Addressing the press on Monday this week, Aciro said she has instructed her lawyers to reply to the petition.
Aciro said she is a law abiding citizen and said she is ready to defend what she termed ‘‘her victory.’’
Aciro beat Kidega by only two votes. She polled 8,599 against Kidega’s 8,597.
