Branch officials come out in defence of Ababu

Busia, Kenya: Busia ODM branch has dismissed claims that Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba is working with the Jubilee government to undermine his party.

Addressing a press conference held at a Busia hotel on Wednesday, the county branch chairman Patrick Ombongoya said the branch supports  Namwamba's call to have ODM elections held without further delay.

"We have no problem with our party leader Raila  Odinga, but our only cry is for the party to put its house in order and carry out elections without delay," Mr Ombongoya said.

He refuted claims by party operatives that Ababu is a Jubilee mole in the party and that he sponsored the men in black to scuttle the botched party polls held at Kasarani in Nairobi.

"We want to believe that if elections are carried out today in a fair and free manner, Ababu Namwamba will emerge as the secretary general for the party," Ombogoya said.

PRESENT OFFICIALS

Present at the press conference were party members drawn from all the seven sub counties of Teso North, Teso South, Nambale, Matayos, Butula, Funyula and Budalang'i.

The officials present included County Executive Stephen Obinda, ODM Woman Representaive in the county Rispa Omunge alias Mama ODM, County Youth Treasurer Boniface Magonda and branch Youth Leader Eric Obayi.

WRECK ODM

Over the weekend Ababu sent signals of his displeasure with the party when he railed at the party leadership for failing to call for elections and trying to impose people into party leadership.

However, Obongoya denied claims that Abaabu was on his way out of the party, saying the legislator was in ODM to stay.

Ms Omunge said Ababu had not left the party and that he was the best candidate for the party's secretary general position. She defended the MP against claims that he was being bankrolled by Jubilee to wreck the party.