The High Court in Gulu on Monday dismissed with costs the election petition challenging the election of Akol Anthony as the Kilak North Member of Parliament.
Ojera Christopher, the former National Resistant Movement (NRM) party candidate for the Kilak North Constituency had petitioned the High Court accusing Akol and the Electoral Commission (EC) of irregularities in the January polls.
Through his lawyer Brian Watmon, Ojera claims the election was marred by irregularities, voter bribery and malpractices.
EC had declared Akol of the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party winner after polling 6,534 votes against Ojera’s 6,366 votes.
According to court document Ojera claims EC conducted election in three illegal polling stations of Apaa Health Center 11, Apaa Primary School and Apaa Market which are all in Adjumani District, denying him victory.
However, the judge ruled that there was no evidence indicating that the three polling stations are in Adjumani district because even the agents of the petitioner assented to the results by appending their signatures in the declaration forms
The judge also ruled that there was no evidence of irregularities, voter bribery and malpractices before dismissing the petition with cost. Ojera has since vowed to appeal against the ruling.
The same court also dismissed with costs the election petition against the election of the Nancy Achora as the Lamwo District woman Member of Parliament (MP)
Molly Lanyero, the former woman MP for Lamwo District had petitioned the high court to nullify the election of Achora citing irregularities including participation of ghost voters during the election, assault, and voter bribery,
However Justice Thadeo Asimwe ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to warrant the nullification of the election Achora before dismissing the petition with cost.
Lanyero through his lawyer Karuhanga Jastas from KTA advocates has vowed to appeal against the ruling.
