Tight security as hearing seeking a vote recount starts
Aug 03, 2018
According to the petition, Onega alleged that most of his valid votes were declared invalid.
PIC: Heavey deployment of police at Nebbi court ahead of hearing of petition seeking recount on Friday.(Credit: Benedict Okethwengu)
COURT
NEBBI - Tight security has been deployed in Nebbi ahead of a court battle between two political heavy weights of Nebbi Municipality.
Anti-riot police was deployed around court premises, with no person allowed access to the court rooms.
Litigants and complaints that had turned to hear their cases had their file called from outside before they were allowed to access the court premises.
This follows a petition filed by Forum for Democratic Party Candidate, Robert Onega on Thursday.
Onega is a two-time loser for Padyere county. The FDC candidate rushed to Nebbi chief magistrate court seeking a recount of votes that were cast in the parliamentary elections held last Friday.
He has competed twice for the seat. In 2011 elections, and 2010 by-elections but lost in all of them.
In 2016 also he missed nomination exercise over lack of national ID and missing name in the register.
He lost to NRM Suleiman Hashim. He polled 4159 votes against Hashim's 4283 votes to lose the seat.
The New Vision has seen a copy of the petition, bearing the seal of Nebbi chief magistrate court and the petition is expected to be heard on Friday.
The case is before Daniel Lubowa, the Nebbi Chief Magistrate court and was expected to start at 1:00pm this Friday.
In the petition, Onega alleged that most of his valid votes were declared invalid.
There were over 241 invalid votes out of the 35 polling stations in Nebbi municipality.
He also alleged that the biometric machines which were meant to verify cases of multiple voting were withdrawn before voting ended.
He accused both Electoral commission and Hashim in the petition.
All the accused were in court waiting for the hearing to start by presstime.
Court hearing
The hearing was scheduled for 3:00pm. It will be conducted by the Nebbi cheif magistrate, His worship, Daniel Lubowa.
Basing on the petition, the FDC candidate accused both the electoral commision and opponent, Hashim.