John Okwii Ekutelek Jr., one of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) aspirants in the recently concluded party primaries for Soroti City East Division, has formally petitioned the NRM Election Disputes Tribunal, citing massive electoral irregularities.
Ekutelek, who emerged second in a closely contested race, has threatened to cut ties with the ruling party if the alleged election malpractices are not investigated and addressed.
In the official results declared by the NRM Electoral Commission, Isaac Orego was announced the flag bearer for Soroti City East Division, having secured 3,179 votes, followed by Ekutelek with 2,111 votes.
Other contenders included Moses Egunyu (1,230), Herbert Yoweri Elaju (482), and Simon Richard Adakun (192).
But Ekutelek insists that those results do not reflect the will of the people.
“It is in the public domain that we won the election, but we were not declared the rightful winners,” Ekutelek told journalists during a press briefing in Soroti City.
“We are extremely disappointed with the way the primaries were conducted, especially here in Soroti City. Our victory was stolen.”
Ekutelek claims the entire process was marred by irregularities, ranging from ghost voting to deliberate doctoring of Declaration of Results (DR) forms.
He cited specific areas in Soroti City where, according to him, voting either never took place or results were falsified.
“In wards like Aloet, voting barely happened. There was a market day, and most people were not present. Yet numbers were manufactured and submitted as if voting took place,” he alleged.
Even more disturbingly, he claims that a polling station was irregularly transferred to the home of a registrar, where results were allegedly cooked to align with interests from the party’s inner circles.
“In Morapesur where I come from, people turned up massively. But elsewhere, like in Kamswahili Ward, my agents were chased from polling centres like the prison cell. DR forms were filled based on the voters’ register, not actual lining up, which is the standard for our party primaries,” he explained.
Ekutelek provided accounts of blatant result manipulation, including in areas like St. Veronica Cell B4 and B5, where he claims that figures were inflated tenfold.
“About 15 people lined up, but the winning candidate was allocated 150 votes. It’s ridiculous,” he said.
“Where are the photos or videos of these queues? At least I have footage of my supporters lining up. The declared winner doesn’t.”
Ekutelek’s most serious accusation is that sections of the NRM electoral office conspired to alter DR forms.
He alleged that fresh forms were supplied to replace the originals in favor of his opponent.
“A section of people within the NRM office colluded to alter forms. These are not small accusations, they go to the heart of our party’s integrity,” he warned. “The people’s voice was silenced. We will not keep quiet.”
According to him, the selection of “anointed candidates” over popularly supported aspirants is a recipe for future electoral defeat.
“If we continue imposing candidates who lack grassroots support, we are simply handing the opposition an easy win in the general elections,” he said. “We must let the people’s candidate emerge victorious.”
Ekutelek painted a picture of selective manipulation, suppressing votes in strongholds while inflating numbers elsewhere.
He cited Pioneer and Central wards, both urban areas with high population density, as having suspiciously low turnouts.
“In Pioneer Ward, especially in cells like Nurses’ Hospital, no actual voting took place. But someone was declared the winner from there,” he said.
“On the contrary, in Kengere, Morapesur, and Kichinjaji, where people truly voted, our win was undeniable.”
He also suggested that deliberate efforts were made to cancel out his votes from strongholds, in a coordinated scheme to favor his opponent.
In light of these concerns, Ekutelek said he has formally submitted a petition to the NRM Elections Tribunal, urging a fresh, fair review of the primary results.
“We have submitted overwhelming evidence to the tribunal, and we demand that the matter be resolved urgently and justly,” he stated.
“Until this is done, I will not rule out any option, including walking away from the NRM.”
He warned that continued manipulation of internal party processes would weaken the NRM’s grassroots mobilization capacity and endanger its future in urban constituencies.
“You cannot keep sidelining candidates with the ability to mobilize real support on the ground. People know who their leaders are. When that voice is denied, it breeds apathy and frustration,” he cautioned.
Ekutelek argues that even in the aftermath of the declaration, the public response has been muted, an indicator, he claims, that the wrong candidate was declared.
“Look around this city. There is no excitement, no celebrations. Even the so-called winner cannot find the moral authority to come out and thank voters. Why? Because deep down, he knows the people did not choose him,” he said.
He challenged the declared winner to hold a public rally or thanksgiving event if he truly believes he won.
“Let him show us a video of voters lining up behind him. Let him hold a rally. The truth is written all over Soroti. This election was rigged,” he emphasized.
In a dramatic conclusion to his address, Ekutelek issued a veiled ultimatum to the party hierarchy.
“I have been loyal to the NRM. But if the leadership cannot correct such injustices, then it is time to question that loyalty. I am ready to end this marriage,” he said.
He said his next steps will depend on the tribunal’s verdict, but emphasized that the people of Soroti City East deserve to be represented by someone they actually chose.
“We will not stop at anything until justice is served. If need be, we shall take the voice of the people elsewhere,” Ekutelek concluded.
As the party tribunal sits to consider petitions like Ekutelek’s, the political atmosphere in Soroti City remains tense.
Supporters are growing restless, and divisions threaten to spill over into the 2026 general elections.
Observers say the outcome of this tribunal ruling will not only shape the future of Ekutelek’s political career, but also determine the strength of NRM’s grip in a constituency that has become increasingly competitive.
Whether Ekutelek’s claims will lead to a reversal or re-run of the primaries remains to be seen.
But what is clear is that the NRM will need to tread carefully if it wants to maintain cohesion and credibility in the eyes of its members, and voters, come 2026.
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