By Mubiru Ivan
The Independent candidate who had been declared winner of the Busia LC5 by election following the withdrawal of the remaining two candidates from the race, will not be sworn in after High Court in Mbale halted the process.
Chrispus Bwire and Tony Ojambo’s dramatic pull out of the race saw Wandera declared winner of the race, unopposed.
Umar Kiyimba, the Busia district returning officer on Monday morning made the declaration.
“I hereby declare Geoffrey Wandera as elected unopposed for Chairperson, Busia District,” said Kiyimba.
Adding, “Being the only remaining candidate following the cancellation of the nomination of Oguttu Boniface Paul of the NRM party and Hasubi Deogratius of DP and the deliberate withdrawal of candidature by Ojambo Tonny and Bwire Chrispus both contesting as independents,”
Though independent, Wandera is also NRM leaning.
The seat fell vacant in May, 2018 after Court of Appeal in Mbale District threw out Ouma Adea after being convicted of corruption in 2013.
The actual polls were supposed to take place on November 28, 2018.
Last week, the Electoral Commission disqualified Oguttu and Njoki on technical grounds after being nominated with unrecognized names.
Now, according to Mbale High Court registrar, gazetting of Wandera will not go on until the final application of the case of appeal is disposed off on December 18.
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