Migori Governor Okoth Obado Dares ODM to Punish him

Migori Governor Okoth Obado has declared that he will not back down in his battle against ODM over the choice of Ochillo Ayacko as the party candidate in the October 8 Senate by-election.

Mr Obado laughed off threats of disciplinary action by the party. The governor said he will not be coerced into supporting an “unpopular candidate.”

“Why would anyone even imagine gagging me for exercising my freedom of choice? There is absolutely no justification. What law have I broken? It is their own imagination,” he said, adding: “Those threats are neither here nor there.

Speaking to the Sunday Standard yesterday, Obado accused ODM of using unorthodox means to mobilise support for Mr Ayacko.

“They are intimidating everyone on sight, including MCAs. They have scaled up smear campaigns in which they plan to use corruption allegations and social media against me to cajole me into submission. I will not be cowed,” he said. “What we’re seeing in Migori is outright dictatorship by the party,” he said.

Migori

Rejected Ayacko

Governor Okoth Obado rejected the nomination of his political nemesis, Ochillo Ayacko, by the ODM top organ on last month.

Addressing his supporters in Migori Town after the Court of Appeal upheld his election victory which had been challenged by Mr Ayacko, Mr Obado said he did not recognize his rival’s nomination to fly the ODM flag, falling short of declaring that he would support another candidate during the by-election.

He urged residents to ignore the party’s choice and support a candidate of their choice. “I cannot support a boardroom decision made by a few people in Nairobi,” Mr Obado said while addressing his supporters in Migori Town.

Mr Ayacko’s nomination was also opposed by former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, who expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s decision and vowed to remain in the race.

Image result for Ochillo Ayacko,

“I totally disagree with the party. I am still in the race and will run as an independent candidate,” Mr Otieno said.

Also upset with the party’s decision was Mr Mark Okundi, the nephew of the late senator Ben Oluoch Okello.

The family of the late senator had appealed to the party to give Mr Okundi the ticket as a consolation.

Mr Okundi said he is considering running as an independent candidate. “We are consulting and will give a way forward later as a family,” Mr Okundi said.

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