BY MANUEL ODENY

Political differences between Suna West MP Peter Masara and Migori governor Ochillo Ayacko took center stage during the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) grassroot elections in the constituency on Wendesday.

Tension between the two leaders have been building ahead of the orange party grassroots elections, by the time of going to the press by 2pm the constituency returning officer for the elections was not clearly known as confusion was evident in polling centers.

The legislator shocked his rivals catching them flatfooted when he decided to physically and personally take charge of the exercise when he arrived at Oruba Mixed Secondary where he said he was elected as a committee member.

Addressing the press shortly afterwards at Migori Primary School, the legislator said the election was peaceful and many party members turned up for the exercise.

“What i can say is that the ODM was ready for the exercise as names were listed including Mpesa transaction for those who paid, it was smooth,” Masara said.

He said at Oruba Mixed Secondary, where he votes, the exercise was smooth as it was across the entire constituency with a huge turnout.

According to the party National Elections Board, officials at polling centers can be elected in consensus, voting by a show of hand and mlolongo system.

“So far Suna West a lot of people have turn out and across polling centers about 30 officials were elected,” he said.

Officials who spoke to Nyanza News said there are already two lists in the constituency, one pitting Masara and the other his political nemesis governor Ochillo Ayacko.

Ayacko’s list is being speared by former Suna West MP Joseph Ndiege and current county ODM secretary general Joseph Olala.

Masara has declared to unseat Ayacko in the 2027 polls creating further tension in the constituency which already had two parallel officials allied to Masara and Ndiege.

When Nyanza News and a team of journalists sought redress from Olala he refused to give a comment “saying it was too early to comment on elections of Suna West.”

“We have two lists out, we only hear Masara had been walking in some polling centers and declaring results, we will give a statement later,” Olala said.

Gordon Okinyi Okungu, Suna West constituency youth leader said the election at grassroot was supposed to bring unity in the party.

“We hope we will vote party leaders not aligned to Masara, Ayacko or any other elected leader but those who will defend our party. So far voting has been peaceful and we wish those elected should be named with doctoring the list,” Okungu said.

Omondi Ayuka, who voted at Migori Primary and a close confidant of Masara accused Olala of not concentrating on his role as county Secretary General but being obsessed with Suna West.

“In the current post as a county official we never elected him anywhere as a polling station officer, we wanted him to be elected first at this level instead of causing division,” Ayuka said.

But by the time of the close of the voting exercise Ayacko’s team led by Odongo Ragoi, Donella Dolly, Abdi Fatah and Abdi Nyabiondo as constituency chairman, woman representative, secretary general and youth leader in a press statement fell short of directly calling out Masara.

The team toured several polling centers with officers from the Migori county government to validate results.

“We had 50 polling centers where elections was smooth, only two had issues which we rectified. All had voting while only five had officials picked by consensus, the exercise was peaceful,” Ragoi said.

The officials termed the exercise as peaceful and all leaders elected will set the precedent for the next ward and constituency elections.