Azimio National Coalition Executive Council (NCEC) deputy chairman David Murathe says Raila Odinga’s call for his base to vote for only ODM candidates in the upcoming August elections has the potential of entrenching voter apathy in the region, thereby denying the Azimio flagbearer victory.
”The more candidates the merrier. If you run candidates, for example, of David Ochieng’s party or even UDM, which Gumbo (Nicholas) is contesting for Siaya governor seat on, provided at the top they vote for Jakom (Raila), will see more people come out to vote.
”t is good for voter turnout. This is because they (contestants) will all mobilise their supporters to go and vote, so it is important to let the competition be very heavy and this will ensure the presidential vote remains intact,” Murathe was quoted by the Nation.
Read: Kidero seeks Moi in the fight against Raila, ODM
His remarks were supported by KANU Secretary General Nick Salat who says Nyanza voter turn-out will be suppressed if their flagbearer insists on six-piece voting in Nyanza.
”We cannot achieve maximum presidential votes through the route he is going. It is better that he allows other parties to contest because he is still the beneficiary,” SG Salat noted.
Mr. Odinga, while in Mombasa on Tuesday afternoon reiterated his Monday stand in Homabay where he called on his traditional ODM bases, including Luo Nyanza to vote for ODM. From the MCA position all the way to the Presidency.
