Stanley Ebele
Earnest Ayen, the NUP flagbearer for Northern Uganda MP is battling a petition before the Electoral Commission challenging his candidature over legibility to represent Youth at Parliament.
Candidate Elma Challa Kapel, the NRM flagbearer is challenging the age of Ayen who is thought to 30 years in a petition filed before the Electoral Commission on 5 November, 2025.
The petition arises from the date of birth on Ayen’s National ID which shows he is now 30 years old, an age bracket not legible to represent youth as at the national assembly. For one to represent youth as MP, he/she must be 29 years of age or less, in addition to other requirements.
In the petition filed by Okello Oryem and Company Advocates dated November 5 and received by the Commission on November 6, 2025 Elma Challa Kapel is seeking nullification of Ayen’s candidature on grounds of overage.
Her petition was heard on Friday at the Electoral Commission’s main office in Kampala and is now pending disposal on a date that was not announced.
Ayen defended his age as an error by National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA), which he and the Authority were already working to correct.
//Cue: Earnest Ayen eng
Earnest Ayen Lebthur
