Magistrate court rejects Taligola’s vote recount application

Independent candidate Mr Issa Bantalib Taligola has asked court to permit a vote recount. PHOTO/NMG.

What you need to know:

  • Mr Taligola claims that the judgment “was not fair” further stating, “This honorable court didn’t consider looking at alternated figures presented.”

The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Pallisa district has dismissed a court application that was seeking a vote recount for the Gogonyo constituency Parliamentary elections held on January 14.

The Petition was filed by Mr Issa Bantalib Taligola (Independent) who polled 6,214 votes to emerge second behind Mr Derrick Orone, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate who emerged winner with 6,280 votes.

Other candidates in the race included, Mr Francis Mukula (Independent) who polled 3,687 votes, Mr Gerald Bonna (Independent) who polled 699 votes; Mr Sam Ourumu (Independent) polled 464 votes while Mr Micheal Emuron (Independent) obtained 167 votes.

Chief magistrate, Zulaika Nanteza , ruled that the applicant (Taligola) and his lawyers had failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant court to order for a vote recount.

However, soon after the ruling, supporters of Mr Orone, who had converged outside the court premises got jubilant upon learning of the case dismissal.

NRM candidate and area MP elect Derrick Orone. PHOTO/NMG.

Mr Taligola dragged NRM’s Mr Orone to court citing irregularities during the tallying process.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Nanteza Zulaika asserted that Mr Taligola had no evidence to that effect- that can cause the recount of votes that made the Electoral Commission (EC) declare Derrick Orone duly elected MP for Gogonyo County.

The chief Magistrate further advised Mr Taligola to appeal the judgment in High Court is he is not contented with the ruling.

Speaking outside court premises shortly after the ruling, Mr Orone told that the electoral process was free and fair from vote rigging as it had been alleged by his rivals.

Meanwhile Mr Taligola claims that the judgment “was not fair” further stating, “This honorable court didn’t consider looking at alternated figures presented.”
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