By Muyanga A. Mark
Following a petition filed against the outcome of the recently concluded Guild Speaker elections in which the petitioner, Mr Otim Kennedy got trounced by his political rival; Acidri Phillip, the Election tribunal yesterday ruled, that the newly voted Guild speaker ascended the throne of speakership through constitutionally unscrupulous means and should henceforth vacate that office.
Yesterday, the Gulu University election tribunal released the long-awaited response to a petition which was filed by Otim Kennedy; a second-year student of Bachelors of Law who is still nursing “burns” from the recently concluded fiery, adrenaline packed Guild Speakership contest against his opponent Acidri Phillip; a fourth-year student of medicine and surgery.
On the 18th of last month, following conclusion of the Guild Presidential race, the Guild Speakership race also came to its climax within the house of newly elected Guild Representative Council (GRC) members with the forerunners being none other than Otim Kennedy; a GRC elect of faculty of law by then and Acidri Phillip; the Faculty of medicine President-elect by then.
This race was moderated by the returning officer, Okello Edmond who despite several queries being raised about “the legitimacy of a faculty president contesting for speakership”, quashed all scepticism with the assertion that he too was elected into Guild speakership despite being a faculty president-elect of faculty of Agriculture in 2018.
Having swallowed a sound pumelling in the house where he scooped 21 votes against his opponent who garnered 31 votes, Mr. Otim Kennedy sought redress through the petition where he averred that a faculty president is not legible to be voted as a Guild Speaker.
However, a letter from the returning officer who has been ordered by the Tribunal to carry out fresh Guild Speaker elections within a week from yesterday warns the university about the dangers of misinterpreting the guild constitution and possible legal recourse which may follow.
As to what course of action the deposed Guild Speaker plans to take, we shall keep updating you.
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