Richard Otim
17 October 2008
Soroti — Soroti Municipality MP Charles Ekemu has been beaten by a metal fabricator in the ongoing elections meant to put in place lower structures for the Forum for Democratic Change party.
The elections presided over by Soroti FDC Chairperson Peter Omolo, who is also MP for Soroti County, were conducted at the Independence Gardens in Soroti on Wednesday.
Mr Ekemu was trounced by the little known metal fabricator, Mr Jonathan Ecakara, who got 20 votes against the MP's 10 at the poorly-attended elections.
Party officials say the outcome of the election has serious implications on Mr Ekemu's intentions to contest for the seat in 2010 as it limits his participation in the primaries that would determine who represents the party in the parliamentary race. "It means Mr Ekemu will only attend the delegates' conference as long as he is an MP," said a member of Soroti FDC executive committee who preferred anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Meanwhile, four senior members of the FDC party in Soroti have been dismissed. The FDC Secretary General, Ms Alice Alaso, announced the decision recently in Soroti. She said the four would not be permitted to take part in the ongoing grassroots elections.
Those dismissed include the Soroti District LC5 speaker, Mr Joseph Osoto and three LC5 councillors, Mr Fred Okello, Mr Jerome Obiol and Mr Okojo Opit. The councillors, who have been serving an indefinite suspension imposed on them early this year, had been accused of indiscipline and failure to adhere to party regulations.
The accused have, however, denied the allegations, saying the disciplinary action had been hatched by members of the FDC district executive committee who feel they are a threat to their positions.
"We have been on the ground and in touch with our electorate but some of our colleagues in the executive committee think we are plotting against them. If they have not been effective at their constituencies, we should not be blamed for their failure," Mr Osoto said.
Mr Okello, one of the members suspended, said; "The dismissal is aimed at stifling us from taking an active part in the grassroots elections."
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