By Nathan Eyagu
SOROTI CITY
NRM cadres in Soroti city have continued to split up into different factions as they front different candidates for the parliamentary by-elections for Soroti City East Member of Parliament.
The fragmentation has resulted with different groups fronting independent candidates after a decision by the top Party leaders to give the party flag to Edmund Ariko.
In consultative meeting that was held yesterday, 5th July 2022 in Soroti City East by a section of NRM cadres and supporters, a decision was made to front Omoding Stephen popularly known as Eupa with a slogan POBA (push Omoding back) as an Independent.
The group argue that their decision is premised on the fact they are not happy with the Top Party leadership in fronting Ariko as the flag bearer an act they described as “political party prostitution”.
“We want to meet with the party chairman, not anyone else because we don’t want these political brokers who are looking for money,” one cadre who preferred to be anonymous said.
Denis Ooja, a youth leader in Soroti City under the NRM Party said that if there was anything to be done, the Party should have carried out consultations from home but not Kampala.
Ooja added that they never agreed with the decision of bringing Ariko as a flag bearer of the Party describing him as ‘a political prostitute’ and they are consistent and won’t allow that to happen.
Amunyo Betty, a member and supporter of the NRM explained that they are so tired as even the MP that they voted for wasn’t there for the people as this time they are not ready for lies.
‘We came to discuss issues concerning our party not to fight it, but also to know as party cadres on the decision that the party made, we have decided to front Omoding Stephen as our candidate under the reformed cadres agenda and we have our own candidate who will represent us in the by-election not Ariko,” Kamara Herbert said.
”I have come to stand for those whose kids can’t go to school and can’t eat food, we are not happy with Jimmy Ekemu who sold the flag without consulting us, they are calling me also to Kampala for talks, let them come down here and bribe all of us as a team not as an individual, Ariko was just brought and we didn’t agree as members but for me it’s the people’s choice, am getting the party cadres flag on Friday, a flag of the voiceless,” Stephen Omoding the disgruntled candidate said.
He also added that they are not ready to step down now, as they were cheated.
” They are wasting money now on these by-elections yet people are sleeping hungry. We are ready to meet with the party chairperson but not the so-called brokers who want to also earn,” he added.
It should also be noted that on Sunday 03rd, July another section of NRM party cadres and supporters handed over the national flag to Hebert Omoding Olaboro, popularly known as OMO at Hyde Park to run as an independent candidate for the parliamentary by elections in Soroti City East.
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