Bukedea — A major controversy has erupted inside the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party after it has emerged that Speaker Annette Anita Among ‘s Opponent won’t be nominated by the party Electoral Commission.
Hellen Akol Odeke, went to NRM Secretariat after depositing her expression of interest fees to show interest in the position of Bukedea Woman MP seat, Monday.
According to information obtained by Eye Media, Mrs. Odeke made the required nomination fees without first verifying her status on the official NRM register — a step that is clearly communicated in the party’s guidelines for nomination.
When she presented herself for nomination, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, informed her that she was not a registered party member and therefore ineligible to receive nomination forms.
“You have wasted your money. You are not on the register,” Dr. Odoi reportedly told her — a position consistent with the rules governing the process.
The misunderstanding appears to have stemmed from the earlier removal of Mrs. Odeke’s name from the party register, an issue she took up with the NRM Secretary General’s office. While her name was reportedly reinstated at a later stage, sources say this was after nomination processes were already well underway and the official lists had been issued to the Electoral Commission for verification.
“It is the responsibility of every aspiring candidate to first cross-check their name on the party register before paying nomination fees. That is the clear guidance we give to all,” an NRM official familiar with the matter told Eye Media.
Contrary to social media speculation, there is no indication that Speaker Anita Among — who was duly nominated earlier in the day — had any role in the procedural shortfall that led to Mrs. Odeke’s failure to secure nomination.
Party sources maintain that strict adherence to procedure is essential to preserve the integrity of the party’s electoral processes, and that in this case, the fault lay with the aspirant for not following the correct sequence of steps.
“It is unfortunate, but rules must be followed. Paying nomination fees is not the first step — confirming your eligibility on the register is,” another NRM official emphasised.
As the Bukedea Woman MP race proceeds, attention now shifts to whether lessons from this case will encourage future aspirants to pay greater attention to party guidelines, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings that can cost them the opportunity to contest.
