BREAKING: Tension Rises as Announcement of Pingire County Results Suspended Over Electoral Irregularities

The announcement of results for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries in Pingire County has been suspended indefinitely following widespread complaints of irregularities and alleged manipulation of vote tallies in some polling stations.

The suspension, which has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the hotly contested race, was confirmed by the Serere District Returning Officer, Mr. William Olir, who cited growing tensions, conflicting result declarations, and threats of violence as the main reasons for the delay.

“After receiving formal complaints from candidates and agents, particularly concerning polling stations in Akumoi One and Akumoi Two parishes, we have decided to halt the counting and announcement of results from Pingire County until further investigations are conducted,” Olir stated during a press briefing at the Serere District tally center.

The decision follows an intense standoff between leading contenders, Joseph Ojiit and Philip Oucor, who are locked in a fierce political battle to unseat incumbent MP Fred Opolot.

Preliminary results from other areas within Serere District indicated that Opolot was trailing behind, making Pingire County a crucial determinant of the final outcome.

The controversy erupted when Joseph Ojiit, one of the top contenders in the Pingire race, protested against the figures being announced from several polling stations.

He claimed that the results did not match what was recorded on the ground, accusing his rival, Philip Oucor, of orchestrating a plot to rig the vote in his favor.

“I have walked with the people of Pingire for over 20 years. I know their voice, and this is not it. The results being read are manipulated. You cannot silence the voice of the people through rigging,” Ojiit told reporters.

“How can results be rushed like this when there are clear inconsistencies? We need a proper audit.”

Ojiit further accused some presiding officers of colluding with agents loyal to his rival to alter Declaration of Results Forms (DR Forms) before they were delivered to the tally center.

According to his camp, irregularities were particularly pronounced in Akumoi parishes, where vote totals were allegedly inflated.

In response, Philip Oucor rubbished the allegations, describing them as “the desperate outcry of a losing candidate.” He insisted that the results being announced were accurate and reflected the will of the people.

“I have run a clean campaign, and what we are seeing is the result of hard work and grassroots mobilization. Ojiit is panicking because he knows he has been defeated fairly,” said Oucor.

“This process has been transparent from the beginning, and I urge my supporters to remain calm as we await the next steps.”

The mounting tension between the two camps prompted swift action from the Serere District Electoral Commission officials.

As pressure mounted and crowds grew at tally centers, Mr. William Olir ordered a halt to the process, stating that the commission would not proceed with any announcement until a thorough review of the contested results had been completed.

“We are engaging all stakeholders to gather facts, examine the DR Forms in question, and assess reports from presiding officers and polling agents. The integrity of the process must come first,” Olir noted.

“Until we are satisfied that the process has met the standards of fairness and transparency, we will not proceed.”

The decision to suspend the results has drawn mixed reactions from residents of Pingire County and the broader Serere District.

Supporters of Ojiit welcomed the move as a step toward justice, while those aligned with Oucor expressed frustration, claiming that it was a tactic to delay an inevitable outcome.

Adong Sarah, a youth from Kidetok Town Council, expressed concern about the uncertainty: “People have been waiting anxiously to know who their next flag bearer is. Suspending the results without a clear timeline creates more confusion. The EC should act quickly.”

On the other hand, James Ocen, a supporter of Ojiit, praised the EC’s decision.

“We want transparency. If there’s evidence of rigging or manipulation, it must be investigated. The will of the people must prevail.”

While Pingire results hang in limbo, tallies from Labor Sub County and Kidetok Town Council indicate that incumbent MP Fred Opolot is facing stiff resistance from both Ojiit and Oucor.

Many political commentators believe the winner of the Pingire vote could ultimately become the party’s flag bearer for the 2026 general elections in the constituency.

As of Friday Evening, the EC had not set a date for resuming the counting or announcing the Pingire results, but sources within the commission hinted that an emergency meeting with the Serere NRM District Election Committee would be convened to chart a way forward.

Security around tally centers has been tightened as a precaution, with local police urging candidates and supporters to remain calm and await official communication.

The NRM primaries in Serere have once again exposed the deep-rooted challenges of internal democracy within political parties, as emotions run high and allegations of malpractice dominate the headlines.

Whether the suspension leads to a fair resolution or further deepens the political rift remains to be seen.

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John Ogulei

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