The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission chairman Dr Tanga Odoi, has advised MP Muhammad Nsereko and other Independents to quit the race for Deputy Speaker of the 10th Parliament.
“This should go out as a warning to independent candidates for this speakership race that no one will capsize the NRM EC. Our NRM candidates are time tested and its obvious having won the primaries and did the same to Kigunddu (February general elections),” Odoi roared.
Mr Odoi was speaking at the NRM party headquarters after the nomination of the State Minister for Finance, David Bahati who, alongside Kampala Central MP Nsereko, were the latest entrants into the race for Speakership.
Five other ruling party candidates and Independent Budama South MP Jacob Oboth Oboth are also vying for the post of Speaker.
But Odoi’s statement was interpreted as a veiled attack on Muhammad Nsereko, a former NRM MP who told journalists at Parliament today that he is ready to tussle it out with NRM candidates.
“My duty is to pick and scrutinize who has the best CVs among our NRM candidates as we wait for the rules to be set and followed and we shall ensure that the best candidate is offered,” Odoi vowed.
Mr Odoi’s confidence is derived from the fact that NRM has 294 MPs out of 458 legislators expected in the 10th Parliament.
But Nsereko says the numerical strength of the NRM in Parliament will not stop him from lobbying for support within NRM and other political parties.
The ruling party’s caucus will next week hold primaries at a venue yet to be announced, during which NRM legislators in the 10th parliament will elect candidates to contest for the most coveted legislative offices: that of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Meanwhile, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) legislators who have shown interest in the deputy speaker’s job include Monica Amoding, Abbas Agaaba, Jovah Kamateka, Dennis Hamson Obua and Lwemiyaga county MP Theodore Ssekikubo.
