Onen Bernard Okeny, a former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party candidate in Aruu North in Pader district has expressed interest in the seat after court this week nullified the election of Lucy Aciro Otim.
Onen Bernard Okeny came third in the February elections with 4,428 votes.
Aciro won Aruu North on the independent ticket having defeated NRM’s Nabinson Kidega with a difference of only two votes.
Court of appeal in Kampala on Monday nullified the elections results of the Aruu North 2016 general elections citing non-compliance with the election law after a petition was filed by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate James Nabinson Kidega.
Lucy Aciro Otim an independent candidate was pronounced winner of the election after garnering 8599 votes against Kidega with 8597 votes.
In an interview with our reporter Mr. Okeny said he welcome the court ruling nullifying the results noting that the election was marred by a lot of irregularities ranging from vote rigging, unfairness, aggression and malpractices.
Okeny claims he lost the elections because his votes were rigged at eleven polling stations.
Background on court ruling.
James Nabinson Kidega of NRM who lost with a margin of two votes to her close rival Lucy Achiro Otim an independent candidate in the 2016 general elections filed a petition in the courts of appeal against Lucy Aciro Otim and the Electoral Commission over non-compliance with the electoral laws.
A magistrate`s court in Kitgum in February ordered for a vote recount following the petition. The votes recount however never happened when Aciro and her supporters destroyed voting materials from the Pader Central police station.
Court of Appeal comprising of three judges; Richard Buteera, Barishaki Cheborion and Paul Mugamba dismissed an appeal by Aciro blocking the vote recount and ordered for fresh elections in Aruu North.
