ODM loses its only parliamentary seat in Vihiga county

Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) party has lost the only member of parliament seat it had in Vihiga county.

This is after Luanda MP Christopher Omulele lost the seat to his arch-rival Dick Maungu of the DAP-K party.

MP-elect Maungu garnered 15,298 votes vanquishing Omulele who garnered 12,271 votes.

Other aspirants were Albert Obuyi of Jubilee who got 3, 424, while UDA’s Tom Atingo garnered 3057.

An independent candidate Peter Olale got 297 votes, while Boaz Magomere got 296.

In his concession statement seen by this writer, Omulele congratulated his successor.

“I’m glad I had the chance to serve the good people of Luanda and it’s now time for others to serve. I wish the new crop of leaders a happy and bountiful season that is full of hope, humility and understanding,” Omulele wrote.

However, ODM’s biggest hope rests in the county’s top positions following the re-election of Governor Ottichilo and senator-elect Godfrey Osotsi.

Omulele’s defeat was attributed to his frequent criticism of governor Wilber Ottichilo.

Omulele and Ottichilo hail from Bunyoreland, which is Ottichilo’s block that salvaged his second term bid.

This meant that by standing in Ottichilo’s way, Omulele had stabbed his own back.

The outgoing Luanda MP had served for two terms since the constituency was established in 2013.

Emuhaya constituency was split into two, Luanda and Emuhaya.

However, it is not all in vain for ODM since it has banked 10 MCA seats out of the 25 wards of Vihiga county.

Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC got 7 MCA seats.

ANC secured 3 MPs while UDA managed one.