Clergy urges ODM Party not to issue direct nomination in its strongholds

 

A section of some Clergy from Nyanza region and Kisumu County Azimio La Umoja officials address the media in Kisumu today-Photo By Keyi James

By Dickson Odhiambo

March 31, 2022

Clergy urges ODM Party not to issue direct nomination in its strongholds

A SECTION of the Clergy in Nyanza region have urged the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} Party not to issue direct nomination in its strongholds to some preferred candidates ahead of the party’s primaries.

The clergy advises the ODM Party to only provide direct nomination to places where it is unpopular.

Addressing the press in Kisumu City after meeting the Kisumu County Azimio La Umoja officials led by its chairman Abdul Qadir Mohamed, the clergy led by the Nyanza Council of Church leaders Apostle Washington Ogonyo Ngede said everyone vying for any position in ODM Party strongholds should face the nomination process.

Bishop Julius Otieno says all the aspirants seeking various posts should be treated equally and only those in areas where the party is not popular should get direct party’s tickets.

Bishop Otieno says if nomination process is carried out it will help in taming the fallouts from political parties that may be brought about by the issue of direct nomination process.

He has appealed to the ODM Party’s National Elections Board led by Catherine Muma to ensure that the process of nomination is carried out freely, fair and transparent.

“Carrying out nomination process by various political parties will give an assurance to those who will have lost to concede defeat and say they lost fairly. This will be okay unlike providing direct party tickets to some aspirants,” Bishop Otieno says.

Apostle Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede, Chairman the Nyanza Council of Church Leaders says the clergy will ensure that they pray for peace ahead of the polls in August this year.

He also say the Clergy will talk to their congregation and ask them on where to cast their votes come August 9 this year.

Ngede says as a church they will ensure that they play the role of reconciling those political aspirants who shall have lost in the parties’ primaries with those who shall have won to ensure unity prevails.

Apostle Ngede says the Clergy from Nyanza region will conduct a big prayer for all the political aspirants and pray for them together with the nation ahead of the polls that is slated this August 9.

“What the country needs is peace as we approach the elections and this is why we are organizing for a big prayer for all the aspirants from this region,” Ngede adds.

Chairman Azimio La Umoja in Kisumu County Abdul Qadir Mohamed says their main agenda is to ensure that they mobilize electorates to come out and vote the Azimio La Umoja Presidential hopeful Raila Odinga during the August 9 General Elections.