Prime
FDC divided over Toolit sole candidature in Omoro District Chairperson race
Mr Simon Toolit Akecha addressing journalists at Northern Uganda Media Club on Thursday. Photo by Julius Ocungi
GULU-
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party Members in Gulu District are divided over the sole candidature of Mr Simon Toolit Akecha, in the contest for elections of LCV chairperson in the newly created Omoro District.
The rift follows a press briefing held by a section of FDC party members in Gulu Town on Thursday in which Mr Toolit was paraded before journalists as the sole FDC flag bearer for Omoro District Chairperson race.
Gulu District Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan and the LCIII Chairperson Bardege Division Patrick Lumumba who organized the press briefing rallied their support behind Toolit on grounds that he is the only FDC candidate best suited for the race.
Mr Lumumba claims Toolit was fronted on an independent ground following a ‘meeting held by the party member last week while sourcing for suitable candidates to represent the party in Omoro district.
He said in their meeting, they observed that Mr Toolit enjoys more popularity and support in Omoro district than other party members which gave them a go ahead to front him unopposed.
He noted that although Mr Toolit lost twice in Omoro County Member of Parliament election to his rival Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah, FDC party believes this time he will win with a big margin.
He further claimed that Toolit’s lose twice in the past elections [2011 and February 2016], was because Mr Oulanyah rigged elections and connived with electoral commission to deny his candidate victories.
But FDC Publicity Secretary for Gulu District, Kelly Komakech rejected the decision to front Mr Toolit as a sole candidate saying the process was illegally done since Toolit didn’t even pick interest forms from the party as per the party guidelines.
He said the FDC party in the district didn’t know of any meeting held in which Mr Toolit was seen as the best candidate.
He further argued that even if the meeting was held, Toolit would not still be fronted because he lost elections twice.
Mr Komakech noted that the party leaders are going to convene a meeting soon to front candidates who will be able to compete in primary elections to set examples of democracy in the party.
He also accused Mr Toolit of receiving bribes from Deputy Speaker Oulanyah with aims of crossing to National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Mr Toolit, however told Daily Monitor in an interview on Thursday, that he didn’t receive any bribes from Oulanyah to cross to NRM.
“If I am to join NRM, I cannot join it through Oulanyah, but the fact of the matter is that I am not crossing to NRM party. I dint dictate my way out to go and contest for Omoro District Chairperson seat, my voters are calling me back and the party has trusted me,” Mr Toolit who doubles as Gulu District FDC Chairperson.
If he goes through, Mr Toolit will tussle out with NRM’s Douglas Peter Okello, former Gulu District Vice Chairperson also LCV Councilor Lalogi Sub county who has shown interest in the position.
Gulu District Returning officer Mr Benson Obete said so far two people have picked nomination forms.
Electoral commission (EC) has set July 19 and 20 as date for nominating candidates in Omoro District.
About Toolit
Mr Toolit was the Omoro County MP in the eighth Parliament but got defeated by Mr Oulanyah in 2011 parliamentary election. He was again thumped by Oulanyah in the February 18 parliamentary election.
He challenged the elections results at Gulu High court but his petition was dismissed with costs by Mbarara Resident Judge Justice David Matovu last month.
