Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong took to the dock at the Busia High Court on Wednesday in the petition case filed by former Teso South Member of Parliament Mary Emaase challenging the election of Geoffrey Omuse as the area MP.
The Governor was a witness to Omuse who had lined up three witnesses. Ojaamong who was on the dock for 40 minutes was his last witness to testify.
Both lawyers representing Emaase, Omuse, and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will now give their final submissions on January 8, 2018, before the Judge Kiarie Waweru Kiarie fixes a date when he will deliver the Judgment.
Ojaamong while being cross-examined by Emaase’s lawyer David Otieno denied claims by the former MP in her affidavit that he used his influence to have Omuse declared the winner by ‘manipulating’ results at Amukura tallying Centre on August 9.
Emaase had also claimed in her affidavit that the Governor had a conversation with an IEBC officer at the Amukura tallying centre and that Ojaamong had gone with “goons” who caused mayhem at the tallying centre.
She also claimed the Governor demanded the results and that he witnessed the disturbances at the tallying centre, a move that gave Omuse due advantage over her.
Governor Ojaamong denied all allegations levelled against him by Emaase saying he went to the Amukura tallying centre to witness the tallying process and nothing more.
There was drama in court when Ondieki tried to introduce new evidence to pin the Governor and test his honesty, but the Judge dismissed it.
Emaase’s lawyer Wycliffe Okuta said they have a spendings application which they are seeking the court’s order for the scrutiny and a recount of votes in 50 polling stations out 136.
Omuse’s lawyer David Otieno and his IEBC counterpart Simiyu Wabuge opposed the application quoting sections of the law and case files to back their defence. The Judge will deliver the ruling on the application for recount and scrutiny on January 8, the same day final submissions will be heard.