Tororo Woman MP Opendi files petition challenging election loss

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Sarah Achieng Opendi, the outgoing Tororo district woman MP, has filed an election petition challenging the victory of her successor, Angella Akoth, in the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Akoth, an advocate of the High Court, beat Opendi with a margin of 35 votes after garnering 78,542 votes against Opendi’s 78,507.

Through her lawyer, Hillary Kabiswa, Opendi on Monday (March 9) filed the petition before the Tororo High Court challenging the outcome of the results, saying the election process was conducted in non-compliance with electoral laws and was characterised by malpractices.

The petition jointly sues Angella Nzokire Akoth, who was declared the winner of the race, and the Electoral Commission as the respondents.

"You are hereby required to file an answer within 10 days after the petition has been served on you. Should you fail to file an answer on or before the date, the petitioners may proceed with the petition, which may be determined in your absence," the petition read in part.

Earlier on January 27, Opendi lost her bid seeking a vote recount before Tororo Chief Magistrate Irene Nambatya in 11 contested polling stations.

Nambatya dismissed Opendi's application on the grounds that two of the 11 contested ballot boxes had broken seals while five others had been tampered with.

"The exercise of vote recount cannot go ahead because of the tampered ballot boxes, and therefore the request for recount is dismissed," Nambatya said in a fully packed courtroom.

The contested ballot boxes were among those presented before court following Opendi’s application seeking a recount in polling stations where she alleged irregularities during the vote tallying process.