By Stanley Ebele
The Chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, Dr. Tanga Odoi, has expressed concerns over massive election irregularities that have marred the NRM party structure elections in Kotido Municipality.
In a statement issued on Monday May 19, 2025, Odoi, said that he had received several complaints from candidates that voters were being hidden by rival candidates in order to influence their decision to choose leaders against their will.
Although he did not name the candidates involved, our reporter spotted voters camping at the homes of two elected leaders on Sunday evening ahead of today’s expected vote.
Odoi stated that the NRM Electoral Commission decided to temporarily suspend today’s elections until Wednesday to allow the registrar to conduct the exercise in a free and fair environment and in accordance with the NRM election regulations.
The Kotido District Registrar, John Paul Namuya, said there are a number of irregularities on the ground involving candidates whom he declined to name.
A voter who preferred anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter said he was picked up and held at a venue for hours without permission to leave on Sunday by a group of supporters loyal to some candidate.
In a related development, Tanga Odoi has also postponed the election of party flag bearers for Youth, older persons, and PWDs that was scheduled for May 19, 2025, to May 29, 2025, due to what he termed as “circumstances beyond the NRM Electoral Commission’s control “.
