Ekwau trounces Turinawe in FDC EALA election

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has voted Florence Ibi Ekwau as the party's representative for East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

Ekwau is the former woman representative of Kaberamaido district. 

In the elections held at the party headquarters in Kampala on Monday, Ekwau emerged winner with 20 votes beating Turinawe, FDC's secretary for mobilization who got 18 votes.

Patrick Baguma got 7 votes, Innocent Ayo 6, Gloria Paga 5, Wilberforce Kyambadde 4, Godfrey Tindibwa 2, while Augustine Ojobile and Hebert Mayemba got no votes.

The party's electoral commission boss, Dan Mugarura, declared Ekwau the winner of the election.

He said they expected 69 voters but only 62 turned up. 

"We are grateful to have concluded this exercise peacefully without any violence. All the 62 votes were valid and that is how they voted. We only request other contestants who have lost and FDC MPs in Parliament to give support to our candidate who is going to face other candidates from other parties in Parliament" Mugarura noted. 

In her remarks, Ekwau said there was no reason for FDC to celebrate. 

"I can't have a smile right now. This vote at Najjanankumbi is not the final one; we still have the biggest battle in Parliament. I am just happy that we have got our candidate early enough which can help us lay more strategy to win the slot in Parliament" she said.

Turinawe conceded defeat and promised to support Ekwau. 

Ayo however cried foul saying there was a syndicate within the party leadership, trying to fight others.

"We have people who are neither delegates nor National Executive Council members manning the party behind closed doors. We knew there was such a problem but needed to see the integrity of the party leadership" he added.

Other candidates also pledged their continued support for the party.

Uganda has nine slots for EALA including two for the opposition, one for independents and the six for the ruling party.