Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has clarified its position on giving direct nominations to the party’s aspirants.
In a statement at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday, ODM National Elections Board (NEB) chairperson Catherine Mumma said the party will issue the direct tickets with regard to popularity.
She clarified that the direct nominations will be handed to single candidates in every electoral area who appear popular in a poll conducted by the party.
Ms. Mumma further said that the direct certificates shall also be issued to candidates agreed upon by consensus.
“We shall only issue direct nomination certificates to single candidates in every electoral area, those who appear popular as per the opinion polls conducted by the party and those who will have been agreed on after the process of consensus,” she stated.
ODM announced a few days ago that it would hold its primaries between April 1 and April 21 through the method of universal suffrage.
“The NEB hereby notifies all aspirants who have applied to vie for the different electoral seats on the ODM party ticket that the party primaries through the method of universal suffrage shall take place on the mentioned dates,” Ms. Mumma stated.
According to the guidelines by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), all political parties are expected to have concluded their primaries by April 22.
