By Spy Uganda
The latest coming in from election petitions indicate that High Court in Soroti has nullified the Election of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party flag bearer Moses Okia Attan as the Member of Parliament for Soroti City East constituency.
The nullification was after Attan’s rival Herbert Edmund Ariko dragged him to court challenging his victory on claims of malpractice and voter disenfranchisement.
Now, in her ruling on the matter, Lady Justice Anne Mugengyi ordered that fresh elections be conducted in Soroti City East after observing that there was no valid election in Soroti City East for a directly elected MP.
Justice Anne Mugengyi reasoned, “the declaration of the 1st respondent [Attan] as a directly elected Member of Parliament by the 2nd respondent [Electoral Commission] is annulled and a fresh election to be conducted by the 2nd respondent [Electoral Commission].”
As if that was not enough, the Justice threw costs to the petitioner, payable by both respondents.
In the elections, Attan had defeated Ariko with a margin of 419 votes before being sworn in as the area’s legislator.
The race had attracted six candidates that included Attan who polled 7,606 votes, Ariko 7,164, Jimmy Ekemu (NRM) 397, Sarah Inachu (Ind) 185, James Herbert Elaju (UPC) 99 and Arnold Emachu (NUP) 86 votes.
