ODM bends to nomination pressure in fiercely contested areas

The ODM party has caved into hopefuls’ demands and will now hold nominations for bitterly fought seats using democratic elections.

The Raila Odinga-led party sparked outrage with its intention to utilize consensus and opinion polls to award direct tickets to contenders in their strongholds.

 To avoid a stalemate, ODM national chairman John Mbadi stated that the party will submit aspirants vying for various seats across the country to nominations in places where consensus has failed.

During a televised interview, Mr Mbadi stated that, while the party still believes that consensus is the best strategy to achieve an overwhelming seat win, nominations are being planned.

Mr Mbadi stated during a television interview that, while the party still believes that agreement is the best approach to secure an overwhelming seat win, nominations are being planned.

“We started with developing consensus and are still working on it… we have completed primaries in some places but not in others. If reaching an agreement becomes problematic, we shall subject them (aspirants) to universal suffrage by party members, which we will do next week “he stated, “If there is to be a vote, the majority of the nominees will be completed next week.”

ODM held primaries in Kwale, Taita Taveta, and Homa Bay counties earlier, however, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Kilifi counties were postponed to allow for consensus building.