By James Alomu
Simon Peter Edoru Ekuu the current Local Council Five (LC5) Chairman for Soroti District, has announced his decision to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general elections, following a series of irregularities and alleged misconduct in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries. Edoru, who initially contested for the Dakebela County parliamentary seat within the NRM party, now seeks to challenge the results of the primaries and unseat the declared winner, Edopu Peter Edeku.
In a press conference held at his office, Edoru expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the primaries were conducted, citing several allegations of fraud, violence, and tribal bias. According to Edoru, the election process was marred by manipulation, where many of his agents were denied the opportunity to sign declaration forms due to "exaggerated results" that did not reflect the true voting outcomes. He emphasized that, based on his observations, he should have emerged as the rightful winner of the race, with Edopu relegated to third place.
Edoru’s comments were a direct response to the official results, which saw Edopu securing 20,009 votes, while Edoru received 6,305 votes. Other candidates in the race included Anyimo Harriet, who garnered 4,740 votes, and several others with lower tallies. However, Edoru pointed to the irregularities within the voting process and how they had undermined the fairness of the primaries.
One of the most concerning aspects of the election, according to Edoru, was the level of violence and intimidation that his supporters faced. He accused Edopu of inciting violence, resulting in several of his agents being physically assaulted during the election. Edoru also alleged that in some areas, results were fabricated and filled in advance, further casting doubt on the integrity of the process.
Adding to his grievances, Edoru highlighted the growing tribal tensions during the race. He claimed that his supporters, many of whom are from the Kumam ethnic group, were systematically denied the opportunity to vote. He accused Edopu, who is Kumam, of fueling these tensions, leading to a situation where the electoral process was heavily skewed against his candidacy.
Edoru also criticized the internal systems used by the NRM to conduct the primaries, labeling them as “too local and prone to manipulation.” He argued that the structure made it far too easy for candidates to rig the votes and gain an unfair advantage.
In response to the flawed process, Edoru announced his decision to run as an independent candidate, expressing a firm commitment to bring peace, stability, and fairness to Dakebela County. He vowed to ensure that the people of the region are fairly represented and that their voices are heard in the forthcoming general election.
As the general election approaches, Edoru’s decision to leave the NRM and challenge Edopu as an independent candidate is expected to make the race for the Dakebela parliamentary seat even more contentious. His supporters, disillusioned by the NRM primaries, are rallying behind his bid for justice, while the results of the primaries continue to cast a shadow over the political landscape of Soroti District.
