The Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission, Dr. Tanga Odoi, has thrown his weight behind the landmark decision of the NRM Election Disputes Tribunal to nullify the election of his son, Collins Tanga, as NRM Youth League Chairperson.
The Tribunal, chaired by lawyer John Musiime alongside Diana Kasabiiti and Esau Isingoma, delivered a scathing verdict on Monday, nullifying the August 27 election over serious irregularities. These included the unlawful removal of candidates from the ballot, unexplained alterations of vote tallies, and the glaring conflict of interest in Dr. Odoi presiding over an election in which his son contested.
Petitions had been filed by candidates Brenda Kiconco, Mackline Natukwasa, and Wilson Otto, citing voter disenfranchisement and ballot tampering. The Tribunal confirmed their claims, noting that Natukwasa was illegally struck off the ballot, Otto’s candidacy was completely excluded, and over 400 suspicious votes were added to Collins Tanga’s tally, giving him 1,567 votes against Kiconco’s 1,355.
In a show of institutional loyalty, Dr Odoi declared that the Commission fully respects the Tribunal’s ruling and will implement it without hesitation. He distanced himself from any allegations of conflict of interest, confirming that he will not play any role in the rerun process where his son remains a candidate
.”If the Tribunal says I step aside, I step aside. That does not mean I have been dismissed. It simply means I will not be involved in that specific process. Let someone else preside,” Dr. Odoi told journalists at the Commission’s headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday. He described the ruling as fair, professional, and binding.
Dr Tanga Odoi is also optimistic that the rerun will provide clarity and credibility, adding that if Collins Tanga wins again, then I will be exonerated hands down. The results will speak for themselves.
The Tribunal also settled the contentious debate on Collins Tanga’s eligibility. While the National Youth Council Act pegs the youth age limit at 30, the NRM Constitution allows candidates up to 35 years. At 31, Collins was deemed eligible under party rules.
Beyond the Chairperson’s seat, the ruling has unlocked the way for elections in at least 18 other pending NRM Youth League positions, including regional vice chairpersons and flag bearers for the coveted Youth MP seats. Dr. Odoi confirmed that dates for these elections will be communicated soon.
Meanwhile, Brenda Kiconco, one of the petitioners, welcomed the Tribunal’s verdict, hailing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for intervening to protect the integrity of the party’s democratic process. She, however, called for further transparency, urging that Ambassador James Kinobe also step aside in the interest of fairness.