NRM to dismiss majority of registrars over alteration of results

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The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is set to dismiss a large number of its electoral registrars after uncovering widespread tampering with results in the recent parliamentary party primaries.

Dr Tanga Odoi, chairperson of the NRM electoral commission, announced that up to three-quarters of all registrars are to be dismissed following damning findings by the party's internal tribunal.

He said investigations had revealed rampant manipulation of results at various stages of the electoral process.

“I can say this with certainty, we are going to dismiss three-quarters of the registrars,” Odoi told journalists during a press conference at the commission headquarters on August 8 2025.

“Almost all of them were involved in altering results. If we find alterations which need court, we shall recommend them to be taken for trial by the courts,” he added.

Odoi emphasised the commission's commitment to restoring integrity, stating that the EC’s reputation was at stake.

“We must protect our name as a commission. If we assigned an electoral role and you misuse your office, by altering results and the tribunal gives us that verdict and pinpoint the registrar a sub county, parish, or even at the district, to have done this and the other, our legal team at the secretariat will then take over to see whether we can reprimand such a person,” he said.

“You are not above the law. If you're found culpable, we’ll dismiss you in the public interest. And if the matter warrants it, we’ll let the courts decide your fate,” he added.

Odoi also criticised some candidates, alleging that both certain winners and petitioners were involved in tampering.

“We must all repent where we did wrong. It should not only be Tanga Odoi…oohh…Tanga Odoi must resign. The reason for resignation must be clear. If you want me to resign, get me on the wrong side for me to resign,” he noted.

“I was not, and none of the commissioners were in the villages. Villages did the right thing. If you pick the DR forms and at the sub-county level you alter results, we shall take you on,” he added.

He said the issue had already been addressed, even in the presence of the party chairman, and warned that any registrar found to have tampered with results in a district would face consequences. “They are not safe, and if we dismiss you and they take you to court, they take you to court. You are not above the law,” he said.