NRM takes Madi-Okollo again

Jun 23, 2017

Isaac Etuka garnered 10,075 votes against Independent Drito's 1,223 votes out of the 13,105 total votes cast.

 

NRM's Isaac Etuka has beaten his fiercest rival Martin Drito, for the second time  to retain his seat in the Madi- Okollo parliamentary by-elections held on Thursday. Etuka garnered 10,075 votes against Independent Drito's 1,223 votes  out of the 13,105 total votes cast. FDC's Arumadri trailed with only 1,174 votes.

 

 

In April this year, three judges of the Court of Appeal nullified the election of  Etuka as the Upper Madi Member of Parliament, after deducing that he was wrongly nominated by the Electoral Commission and included on the ballot paper.

 

Judges Remmy Kasule, Richard Buteera and Alfonse Owiny - Dollo, ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections, declaring the parliamentary seat vacant.

 

Their decision overturned an earlier one by Arua High Court's Justice John Eudes Keitirima, who had upheld the election of Etuka. The Court of Appeal judges re-evaluated the evidence on record and found out that Etuka 's nomination as the NRM flag-bearer was cancelled on the eve of the February, 18, general elections by virtue of a court order obtained by his competitor Martin Drito.

 

 People line up to cast their vote

They also faulted the EC for failing to comply with the Electoral laws by re-nominating Etuka as the NRM-flag bearer, yet the Arua district returning officer had confirmed that he de-nominated him upon the receipt of the said court order.

 

The judges advised that after the issuance of the said court order , Etuuka could only have participated in the election as an independent candidate.

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