The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by Bukedea County incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon. Ikojo John Bosco, challenging the July 17, 2025, party primary election results that declared Okwere David Beecham as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for the 2026 general elections.
In a ruling delivered by a three-member panel comprising Martin Mbanza Kafemera (Panel Head), Deborah Nshemereirwe, and Kenneth Kipaalu, the Tribunal concluded that the petitioner had failed to provide sufficient and verifiable evidence to prove his claims of vote manipulation, falsification of Declaration of Results (DR) forms, and fraudulent tallying.
The decision effectively secures Beecham’s candidacy on the NRM ticket for the Bukedea parliamentary race, bringing an end to weeks of heightened political tension in the district.
The NRM primary election in Bukedea District was a closely contested race between Hon. Ikojo, who has served as the area MP since 2016, and challenger Okwere David Beecham.
According to the official results announced by the NRM Electoral Commission, Beecham garnered 13,651 votes against Ikojo’s 13,064 votes, a margin of 587 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Ikojo lodged a petition with the Tribunal on July 22, 2025, alleging multiple electoral malpractices.
His main contention was that the declared results did not reflect the true will of the NRM members in Bukedea, and that the tallying process was marred by deliberate manipulation in favour of his opponent.
Represented by Mr. Elijah Enyimu, Hon. Ikojo argued that:
- The tallying of votes at the district tally centre involved wrongful entries and falsified figures on the summary form, which inflated Beecham’s votes while deflating his own.
- Specific polling stations, including Kamon, Akworo, Ocumba, and Akaramai, had their results altered in a manner inconsistent with the original DR forms.
- In some areas such as Amuyen, Kodiatar, Ajesa, Gagama, Apopong, Rockview, Kalokor, Adodoi, and Apelewun, voting allegedly did not take place at all, yet results were recorded on DR forms.
- At least 400 votes were fraudulently added to Beecham’s tally during the summary stage.
The petitioner claimed that a proper tabulation of the “authentic” DR forms indicated that he actually won the race with a margin of 1,144 votes.
Through his legal team, Mr. Caleb Alaka, Mr. Kajeke Kenneth, and Mr. Livingstone Ojaku, Beecham denied all allegations of electoral fraud.
He argued that:
- The DR forms relied upon by the petitioner were uncertified, unsigned by presiding officers, and in some cases missing names or signatures, making them legally invalid as evidence.
- The petitioner’s independent tally sheet was not the official tally sheet issued by the NRM Electoral Commission and could not be relied upon.
- The election was conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner in compliance with NRM’s internal election regulations.
Beecham maintained that even if a recount were to be conducted using only official DR forms certified by the NRM EC, the outcome would still confirm his victory.
In its analysis, the Tribunal relied on:
- Article 1(4) of the 1995 Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to choose their leaders through free and fair elections, a principle equally applicable to political party primaries.
- Regulations 43 and 45 of the NRM Election Regulations (2025), which outline the timelines, grounds, and remedies for challenging internal election results.
- Case law, including Attan Moses Okia v. Ariko Herbert Edmund Okworo & Others (2022), Sam Tolit v. Jacob Oulanya (2016), and Hellen Adoa v. Alice Alaso (2016), which emphasise the burden of proof in election petitions and the necessity of verifiable evidence.
On the first issue, whether the election and declaration of Beecham as NRM flag bearer was wrongful, the panel noted that while the petitioner alleged irregularities at specific polling stations, his evidence was based largely on DR forms that were either unsigned or uncertified.
Among the problematic forms were those from polling stations like Angolol, Kalengo, Kamon Village, Olilim, Alimeng, Kidongole South Cell, Kakere Central, and several others, all of which lacked signatures or complete presiding officer details.
The Tribunal observed that: “It is highly irregular that for the aforementioned areas alleged to have experienced irregularities, votes are included in the petitioner’s independent tally. Without official certification or corroborating testimony from presiding officers, these forms cannot be treated as authentic evidence.”
Furthermore, the petitioner did not produce the official tally sheet from the NRM EC, relying instead on his own compiled figures.
This, the Tribunal said, made his evidence “suspect” and “unsafe to rely upon.”
On the second issue, whether the petitioner was entitled to the remedies sought, the Tribunal stressed that for an election to be annulled, non-compliance with the law must be proven to have substantially affected the result.
In this case, the petitioner failed to provide credible proof that Beecham’s victory margin was the result of malpractice.
There were no sworn statements from polling agents, no testimony from voters, and no conclusive evidence of a second, genuine set of results that contradicted the official declaration.
In light of the findings, the Tribunal ruled: The petition is dismissed and the declaration of Okwere David Beecham as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Member of Parliament, Bukedea District, is upheld.
This decision is binding on both parties and the NRM Electoral Commission, and marks the final stage of internal dispute resolution unless either party chooses to pursue the matter in the civil courts.
The ruling cements Beecham’s position as the NRM’s official parliamentary candidate for Bukedea in the 2026 general elections.
It also marks a significant political setback for Hon. Ikojo, who now faces the challenge of deciding whether to back the party’s chosen candidate or explore an independent bid.
Political analysts note that the narrow margin in the primaries and the intensity of the dispute could leave lingering divisions within the NRM’s Bukedea structures.
“This kind of outcome can either galvanise unity behind the winner or deepen factional rifts,” said a local political commentator. “It will depend largely on whether the two camps can reconcile ahead of the general election.
The Tribunal’s ruling underscores the importance of proper documentation and verifiable evidence in election disputes, both in national and internal party contexts.
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