Oburu Odinga is behind ODM nominations mess – Jakoyo Midiwo

Sitting Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo has accused Oburu Odinga – who is the elder brother of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga – of having a hand in the chaos witnessed in the party’s Migori Kisumu and Siaya primaries.

Midiwo claims Raila’s elder brother is rigged in his cronies, locking out the electorates’ preferred candidates.

The Ex-Gem MP, who flopped in his bid to recapture the Gem constituency ticket in the ongoing nominations exercise, says that Oburu’s interference edged out independent-minded candidates.

Midiwo warned that the party could lose votes in key zones, even as Raila Odinga guns for the top job – all the while pointing the finger of blame at Oburu.

“The whole Nyanza region, from Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, HomaBay Kisumu Siaya and Busia, the biggest problem is one person, Oburu Odinga,” said Jakoyo

This comes even as the Orange party is reeling from a divisive nominations exercise in its Luo Nyanza stronghold, with contested results in Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya counties.

In Kisumu, the county’s returning officer declared Professor Anyang Nyong’o the victor in the governor race, moments late his deputy announced incumbent Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma as the winner – the confusion sparking protests in Kisumu town

In Bondo Constituency the exercise was further thrown into a spin when the same returning officers first declared incumbent Gideon Ochanda as winner only to rescind his decision by announcing Oburu Odinga as victorious.

The former Gem MP lost to Elisha Odhiambo who got 13,400, with Jakoyo amassing 8,900.

As this unfolds, pundits argue that Jakoyo, who is a cousin of Raila Odinga, is essentially engaging in sibling rivalry over management of party affairs with Oburu.

The two remain adamant they were rigged out for being independent minds, and both insist that they will contest the August 8^th election.