The High Court in Gulu has nullified the election of Komakech Christopher as the Member of Parliament for Aruu County.
In March 2021 this year, Odonga Otto ran to court challenging the election of Komakech. Through his lawyers, Otto averred that Komakech was irregularly nominated.
They contended that Komakech did not resign from Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital where he worked and that he continued to receive salaries and allowances from the ministry even while he campaigned.
“The law required that all those running for parliamentary elections ought to have resigned from public office by July 12, 2020, but Mr Komakech did not submit the requisite resignation papers at the time of his nominations,” Otto’s lawyers told Court adding that In August, he reportedly received Shs700,122; “he then received Shs700,122 in September and Shs100,000 in October, all through his ABSA bank account.”
In his ruling, Justice Asiimwe Tadeo nullified Komakech’s election and ordered the Electoral commission to conduct fresh elections within three months.
Komakech, an Independent candidate polled 9,327 votes as Otto garnered 5,953votes in the January 14 election.
Upon court ruling Otto took it on twitter saying that; “After going through Harassment during campaigns, detaining my car for 90 days, remanding me Gulu to prison, going to Nairobi hospital after poison, Justice Asimwe Tadeo nullifies Aruu elections. I see God’s hands through him. I am all in tears.”
