Oulanyah rival abducted from his home

Simon Tolit Akecha, who is contesting the declaration of Jacob Oulanyah the Deputy Speaker of Parliament as the winner of Omoro County MP seat has been abducted by unknown gunmen.

According to his son, Steven Akena who was with him in their house that is located in Pece Divison in Gulu Municipality, Akecha was abducted at 3:00am on Wednesday morning.

Akena said the gunmen came calling his father ‘honorable' and when he (Akena) came out of out of the house to find out, who was calling his father he was put on gunpoint before his father was whisked away.

Following the incident police deployed heavily at Akecha's home as investigations got underway.

The Gulu District Police Commander, Martin Okoyo and OC crimes, James Asuubu who visited Akecha's home declined to comment on the incident.

A police spokesperson who talked to New Vision said he was not aware of the kidnap but promised to provide details later.

Akecha is challenging Oulanyah's re-election on grounds that he was declared the winner without actual results being published and that there was intimidation of voters.

On February 19, the Gulu returning officer, Benson Obete announced Oulanyah winner of the seat without stating the figures by which he had beaten his opponent.

On Monday Obete was summoned to appear in court on Wednesday in the hearing of the petition against Oulanyah.

Preliminary results from 54 of the 59 polling stations in Omoro had put Akecha in the lead.

In 2011, Aketcha also petitioned court after he lost to Oulanyah. However his petition was dismissed for lack of evidence.