The Serere District NRM Electoral Commission (EC) has suspended vote counting in Pingire Sub County following a heated dispute over alleged electoral irregularities in the ongoing NRM party primary elections.
The decision came after Joseph Ojiit, one of the parliamentary flag bearer aspirants, raised strong objections to the results being announced from polling stations in various Parishes in Pingire Sub County including Akumoi One and Akumoi Two parishes.
Ojiit, visibly distressed, accused his rival, Philip Oucor, of interfering with the electoral process and manipulating results to his advantage.
“These results are not a reflection of the people’s will. I have walked this journey for 20 years, campaigning on foot and connecting with my people. Now, results are just being announced without integrity? This cannot happen,” Ojiit lamented. “What is on the ground is different from what is being read. We won’t accept rigging.”
Oucor, however, dismissed the allegations as baseless and motivated by fear of defeat.
“My brother Ojiit is only reacting this way because he has seen I am leading by a big margin,” he said confidently. “These are the true results from the people.”
The Sub County Returning Officer also denied any wrongdoing, stating that the vote tallying was proceeding transparently and in line with electoral guidelines.
Despite the counter-accusations, the rising tension and public outcry prompted Serere District Returning Officer, William Olir, to intervene.
In a brief statement, Olir announced the immediate suspension of the vote counting exercise in Pingire until the contested issues are addressed and resolved.
“We have suspended the counting process for Pingire Sub County pending investigations into the alleged irregularities. We want to ensure that the process is free, fair, and credible,” Olir stated.
Preliminary results from other areas such as Labor and Kidetok Town Councils indicate that incumbent MP Fred Opolot is trailing behind, as the contest appears to have narrowed into a fierce battle between Oucor and Ojiit.
However, the suspension in Pingire, a critical vote-rich sub-county, leaves the overall outcome hanging in the balance.
The EC has not yet given a timeline for the resumption of counting in the affected areas, but political observers are closely watching the developments, with many predicting a tight race between the two front-runners.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at tally centers to prevent any potential unrest.
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