The candidature of Simon Toolit Akecha, the former Member of Parliament for Omoro County in the new Omoro District hangs in balance after the Electoral Commission officials declined to nominate him on Thursday afternoon due to the differences in the names that are in his academic papers.
Toolit who is the official FDC party candidate had appeared before Denis Ebong, the Omoro District Registrar for the electoral body with hope to be successfully nominated as the candidate for the District Local Councilor LC V chairmanship for the newly created district.
Ebong, however, rejected his nomination on grounds that he (Toolit) has used different names in his academic transcripts presented to the Electoral Commission.
Ebong explained that Toolit’s has Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), ‘O’ and degree papers that bear the name Simon Toolit Akecha but the name in his ‘A’ Level certificate is questionable. The EC official says Toolit’s ‘A’ Level certificate bears the name Simon Toolit A instead. Ebong advised Toolit to go to court and swear an affidavit if he is to be nominated before the exercise ends today, Friday.
Toolit who looked visibly shaken says he will comply with the decision however he faulted electoral body for not nominating him saying on three occasions, he has been using the very academic documents for nominations for Member of Parliament for Omoro County.
Toolit, the former Omoro County MP lost twice to Jacob Oulanyah, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament in the Omoro parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, the former Gulu District NRM Chairperson, Douglas Peter Okello has been nominated on an independent ticket for the District LCV Chairperson seat.
Okello was accompanied to the nomination venue by Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District LCV who is a senior member of the FDC party, NRM and opposition party supporters.
After falling out with his former party, Okello received backing from FDC officials despite FDC choosing Simon Toolit Akecha as the party candidate.
Other candidates for the District Chairmanship are; Geoffrey Oryem, Mugabe Robert (all independents) and Stephen Odong Latek, the official NRM flagbearer.
In the District Woman MP race, those who have fulfilled the EC’s requirements and subsequently successfully nominated are; Christine Atimango Ario, the former Amuru Chief Administrative Officer(independent ticket), Catherine Lamwaka (NRM), the former Gulu Resident District Commissioner (RDC) who lost to Betty Aol Ocan in the Gulu District Woman MP race, Prossy Alanyo Owiny, (FDC) and Betty Lalam (Independent).
Others who have expressed interest in same seat are; Santa Okot, Rose Nyapolo and Grace Atim Oleyowiya(Independents).
According EC roadmap, campaign will kick off on August 1, and it will end on August 25. Elections are set for August 29.
Omoro split from Gulu after the 9th Parliament elevated and granted it a full district status
By James Ojok Onono & James Owich
