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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has told off former police spokesperson Charles Owino and former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo for dishonesty.
The two ditched ODM Party and joined United Democratic Movement (UDM) , the political vehicle which they are now using to contest for the Siaya county Gubernatorial seat where Owino agreed to deputise Gumbo.
According to the SG, the duo had been out to make life difficult for the party despite having defected earlier.
“These ones must have joined UDM long ago but were hanging around to just make life hard for ODM,” Sifuna told The Nation.
Sifuna reiterated that the deadline for joining parties had elapsed and the registrar of political parties had already closed the portal.
“What I know is the deadline for joining parties had lapsed and the registrar closed the portal.” Said Sifuna.
While being unveiled by the UDM, The party Secretary General David Ohito protected the two lamenting that they met the Saturday, March 26 party hopping deadline.
According to Ohito, the two had joined UDM Party on Thursday, March 24.
“As the custodian of the party registrar. I can confirm that the two leaders are legally members of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) having joined the party on March 24,” Revealed Ohito.
Meanwhile, ODM Party dismissed reports that they were giving out nomination certificates to their preferred candidates.
Accordding to the ODM’s National elections board Chairperson Catherine Mumma, they would only hand out direct tickets to single candidates in an area those who appear popular as per the opinion polls conducted and those who have been agreed upon and consensus.
In a press briefing , Mumma said: “We shall only issue direct nomination certificates in every electoral area, those who appear popular as per the opinion polls conducted by the party and those who will have agreed on after the process of consensus.”
On Tuesday, March 29, Gumbo and Owino ditched ODM Party for UDM Party to face Siaya Senator James Orengo who is expected to fly the ODM Party ticket In the Gubernatorial race.
In a deal by the two, Owino agreed to be the Deputy of Gumbo. This is the second time Gumbo is vying for the same position, where he first vied in the 2013/2017 general election where he lost to the outgoing Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga.
UDM Party is associated with Mandera Governor Ali Rob and its among that is in the Azimio Movement.
