Election was rigged in favour of Mohamed Abdi, former Wajir Governor testifies

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Ahmed Abdullahi
Former Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi during cross-examination before Justice Alfred Mabeya

Former Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamad has told the court that indeed the gubernatorial election in the County was rigged in favour of the incumbent.

During his testimony, Mohamad told the court that he wants all the results for the governor seat revoked and not just in the polling stations that had irregularities.

During cross-examination by lawyer Tom Macharia who represents Governor Mohamed Abdi Mahamud of Jubilee party, the petitioner told Justice Alfred Mabeya that he was not trying to make his petition resemble that of Raila Odinga in 2013.

In a humorous manner, the petitioner told Macharia to stop assuming the above because because he is an ODM member.

In the petition filed by Mohamad and one Muhumed Abdi, they allege that the governor falsified his academic documents and he concealed, falsified or altered the documents, when he filed the self-declaration forms at the EACC.

The two want an order declaring that the Wajir Governor was not validly cleared as a candidate for the position for he did not satisfy the required academic qualifications and the results declared invalid, null and void.

Through lawyer Omwanza Ombati, they also want an order to audit the KIEMS and their servers that were relied upon by the IEBC in the registration and identification of voters and the transmission of results in Wajir County Gubernatorial Elections 2017.

The petitioners also want an order directing the commission to organize and conduct a fresh election in strict conformity with constitution and the Elections Act 2011.

They claim that the governor and/or his people used violence and intimidated their agents and the integrity if the process was undermined therefore affecting the outcome of the election

The petitioners aver that the constitutional and statutory disqualification of the Governor to contest in the elections means his nomination as a candidate and subsequent election was invalid, null and void.

The hearing continues tomorrow.