The High court has nullified the election of Hashim Sulaiman as Nebbi Municipality member of parliament.
Justice Anthony Ojok Oyuk delivered the verdict at the High court sitting in Nebbi today. The judgment stems from an application filed by Robert Onega, the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate in the Nebbi Municipality by-election in August last year.
Onega lost to Sulaiman, who contested as the NRM party candidate, with a margin of 124 votes. He petitioned court, saying the election didn’t comply with electoral laws.
“We are deeply concerned that there were a lot of irregularities like voter bribery, assault, use of faulty biometric voter verification system, intimidation of my voters, failure to provide light during vote counting and uttering false academic documents,” reads the petition in part.
Through his lawyer, Erias Lukwago, Onega accused Sulaiman of conniving with the Electoral Commission to disable and use faulty biometric machines during the polls to allow non-registered voters to vote. Lukwago says Hashim Sulaiman of used another person’s academic documents during the nominations.
In his judgment, Justice Oyuk concurred with the petitioner that Sulaiman lacks the requisite academic qualifications and cancelled his election. He ordered the Electoral Commission to organise fresh polls.
Lukwago said that they are pleased with the court verdict. Sulaiman’s lawyer, Michael Okecha from OBM Chambers didn’t appear in court for the judgment. Sulaiman told journalists shortly after the court session that his team will appeal the judgment.
“We appreciate the judgment but I must assure my supporters that we are going to appeal. We want to pick the sealed ruling next week and proceed further," he said.
During the hearing witnesses including Hashim’s immediate relatives testified that he didn’t complete secondary school and was known as Okethwengu Achima and not Sulaiman Hashim.
Police fired teargas and live bullets to quell down protests by NRM supporters opposed to the court verdict.
Justice Anthony Ojok Oyuk delivered the verdict at the High court sitting in Nebbi today. The judgment stems from an application filed by Robert Onega, the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate in the Nebbi Municipality by-election in August last year.
Onega lost to Sulaiman, who contested as the NRM party candidate, with a margin of 124 votes. He petitioned court, saying the election didn’t comply with electoral laws.
“We are deeply concerned that there were a lot of irregularities like voter bribery, assault, use of faulty biometric voter verification system, intimidation of my voters, failure to provide light during vote counting and uttering false academic documents,” reads the petition in part.
Through his lawyer, Erias Lukwago, Onega accused Sulaiman of conniving with the Electoral Commission to disable and use faulty biometric machines during the polls to allow non-registered voters to vote. Lukwago says Hashim Sulaiman of used another person’s academic documents during the nominations.
In his judgment, Justice Oyuk concurred with the petitioner that Sulaiman lacks the requisite academic qualifications and cancelled his election. He ordered the Electoral Commission to organise fresh polls.
Lukwago said that they are pleased with the court verdict. Sulaiman’s lawyer, Michael Okecha from OBM Chambers didn’t appear in court for the judgment. Sulaiman told journalists shortly after the court session that his team will appeal the judgment.
“We appreciate the judgment but I must assure my supporters that we are going to appeal. We want to pick the sealed ruling next week and proceed further," he said.
During the hearing witnesses including Hashim’s immediate relatives testified that he didn’t complete secondary school and was known as Okethwengu Achima and not Sulaiman Hashim.
Police fired teargas and live bullets to quell down protests by NRM supporters opposed to the court verdict.