Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda's bid to retain his seat in the August 9 elections is in limbo after he failed to present his papers for clearance by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as scheduled.
Dr Ochanda was supposed to present his papers as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominee for the parliamentary election on Monday, but this failed, leaving questions about his fate and that of the Orange party in the polls.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) had ordered the party's National Elections Board (NEB) to repeat the nominations through a popular vote after Dr Ochanda's rival, Mr Andiwo Mwai, filed a petition challenging his April 13 win at the primaries.
However, the 72-hour ultimatum lapsed on May 28 after an appeal filed at the High Court by ODM was dismissed. In the appeal, the party, led by former prime minister Raila Odinga, asked to be allowed to conduct nominations via other means as provided for in its constitution, other than through voting.
Mr Mwai also filed a contempt case on May 28 before PPDT presiding judge Wilfred Mutubwa, complaining that the party's NEB had refused to conduct the repeat polls as instructed by the court.
Aspirants have until June 7 to be cleared. Dr Ochanda told the Nation by phone that he will present his papers on Friday, but he did not say why he could not present them on May 30.
Meanwhile, Mr Mwai's supporters took to the streets yesterday, calling on ODM to comply with the court's orders.
