The two warring ODM factions, one led by party leader Oburu Oginga (left) and the other by embattled Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, to hold separate NDC meetings.
The escalating struggle for control of the ODM party has taken a dramatic twist after the Linda Mwananchi faction announced it will hold a parallel National Delegates Convention (NDC) on March 27.
The Dr Oburu Oginga-led faction had earlier announced that the party’s NDC would be held on the day.
Both factions are yet to announce venues for the meetings as the power struggle in the 20-year-old outfit now morphs into a contest of numbers.
Background: President William Ruto and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga. Foreground (from left): ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, EALA member Winnie Odinga, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka.
While the Dr Oginga-led faction seeks to have the delegates confirm interim officials – including the party leader, his three deputies (Godfrey Osotsi, Abdulswamad Nassir and Simba Arati) and National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, the other faction wants competitive elections for all the national positions.
The Linda Mwananchi faction, led by Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, has since termed the NDC convened by Dr Oginga as illegal and questioned the list of delegates invited for the event.
“The NDC proposed by the Linda Ground team is illegal, unlawful and designed to achieve selfish political agenda. The planning of this meeting is being coordinated by the party leader of UDA, President William Ruto, confirming our earlier stand that ODM is now being remote controlled from State House,” Mr Osotsi told Nation.
He said the parallel NDC has been necessitated by the need to have a competitive election of national officials as opposed to confirmation of interim office holders.
“Dr Oburu should have focused on mediation to reunite the party top leadership before calling an illegal NDC. But again, his hands are tied because he is surrounded by a cabal of leaders who have express instructions from State House to bring down ODM.
“In response to this evil plan, we will have a people's NDC composed of genuine party delegates and the party supporters to determine the next steps to safeguard ODM and Raila’s legacy. Our NDC will be held in Nairobi and it is attracting massive interest among the party members who are dismayed with the conduct of Linda Ground,” said the Vihiga senator.
21-day notice
But allies of Dr Oginga dismissed the planned parallel NDC as unnecessary political drama that has no legal backing. Nyando MP Jared Okello said that the law requires a 21-day notice for a party to convene an NDC, therefore, it is impossible for the rival faction to have the parallel meeting on the same day.
Dr Oginga is also facing a legal battle over the planned NDC. Party member Vincent Chepkwony on March 6 wrote to the party questioning the legality of the notice convening the meeting as well as the composition of delegates.
The complainant argues that the notice was issued by the deputy secretary-general rather than the secretary-general, which he claims violates the provisions of the ODM constitution.
Mr Chepkwony has also raised legality questions about the list of delegates expected to attend the convention. He argues that four counties—Migori, Kisumu, Nairobi and Taita-Taveta are yet to conclude their grassroots elections. Further, he argues, no national elections for both the Women League and Disability League have been conducted, yet these officials are NDC delegates.
