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By Francis Otucu
There was drama Monday morning at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission offices at Plot 13, Kyadondo Road, in Kampala when hearing of petitions against the candidature of Youth Member of Parliament aspirant – Northern, George Abudul, sat.
Three petitioners are battling Abudul over age variations.
The petitions followed emergence of documents he (Abudul) presented for nomination before the NRM EC and the national Electoral Commission in 2016. According nomination papers, he is a born of October 6, 1986. This would mean he is 33 (today), making him ineligible to contest for Youth MP seat. Incidentally, though, these are the same documents he presented before the NRM EC early August for nomination.
However, in 2018, according to petitioners, Abudul, through the National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) ‘amended’ his date of birth to October 6, 1991 (making him 29 years today) so as to pass 30 and below age bracket (according to the law) to vie for the position he lost as an independent candidate in the 2016 parliamentary polls.
Against the above irregularities, the petitioners rushed to NRM EC Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, seeking to block Abudul’s candidature.
The petitioners, this news site understands, include two MP (Youth) aspirants.
THE HEARING
The meeting was to be held last Thursday.
However, Abudul, reportedly feigned ignorance of the petitions against him.
To this, the meeting did not happen.
Instead, the Chair of the meeting, Dr. Odoi asked that Abudul and his lawyer be served, formally and given time to respond.
It is then that the Abuduls were served and meeting adjourned to August 31, 2020.
MONDAY HEARING
The meeting happened 9am Monday morning. Sources say all parties were well represented.
In the meeting, a source said, Dr. Odoi admitted to have nominated Abudul before, fir he had proof of Abudul’s previous nomination. Dr. Odoi, according to a source who attended the meeting, confirmed that years later, not even Abudul’s signature has changed. Against the above background, he (Dr. Odoi) asked Abudul for a say in the petitions against him.
A participant revealed, Abudul forked out his Primary 4 and Primary 6 report cards in evidence of his age. Dr. Odoi felt insulted, a source said.
“Dr. Odoi lost his cool,” a source said. “He asked Abudul to stop wasting time, fooling him and the Commission, and that he (Dr. Odoi) is not there for drama.”
Sources say Abudul was tasked to come clean on his age lest he risks being disqualified.
A senior person at the NRM EC has confided in us that a decision will be sent to all parties, in writing, this week.
