Controversial businessman-cum-politician Jimmy Richard Wanjigi has fronted Mount Kenya delegates to fight Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga in the fight for party control ahead of the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) slated late this month.
Wanjingi has accused the party of failing to adhere to some of its elections and nomination rules alleging plans to block him and others from participating in presidential nominations to challenge Raila.
Through a statement to ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Wanjigi has demanded cancellation of the delegates meeting and compliance with the party’s constitution, failure to which he says he ‘will not hesitate to go to court.
He said his bid to be the party’s flag bearer is informed by the undeniable fact the party’s constitution requires a mandatory term that the elections of national officials and the party’s presidential flag bearer be held after every five years.
“One of the goals of offering my candidature for the party ticket is to support the party in enhancing internal democracy in a more transparent, accountable, and people driven process. It is for this reason that I demand the notice issued be recalled as the same is defective and does not adhere to the party’s constitution,” said Wanjigi.
Wanjigi further argued that the election of the party primaries for the presidential nominations as per the party constitution, Rule 18 requires that there be an election to nominate the party’s presidential candidate during the ordinary session of the Convention after every five years.
Late last week, the ODM the party’s NDC will take place on February 25 and 26 at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi.
Sifuna indicated that the party would hold its NDC “Pursuant to Article 7.2 as read together with Article 7.5.3 (d) of the Orange Democratic Movement constitution, a National Delegates Convention shall be held on the 25th and 26th February 2022 at the Nyayo National Stadium from 9.00 am.”
The SG added that the party would review the conference agenda and confirm the minutes of the NDC held on March 17, 2017, at the Kasarani indoor gymnasium where Raila was endorsed as the presidential candidate.
