ODM Clarifies Fake Notice Linking Babu Owino to Secretary General Position
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has strongly dismissed a notice circulating on social media that claims to propose Babu Owino as the party’s next Secretary General.
In a statement issued on Thursday, March 19, Oburu Odinga made it clear that the document is completely fake. He emphasized that he has not approved or released any such communication and confirmed that no such notice was ever published in any newspaper, including the widely referenced Daily Nation.
According to Oburu, the document is a deliberate attempt to mislead party members and the public at a time when ODM is going through an important transition period. He urged supporters to ignore the publication and rely only on official party communication channels.
The fake notice had gained significant attention online after it was shared widely on Thursday morning. Interestingly, it was also posted by Babu Owino himself, which further fueled public discussion.
The document claimed to inform ODM delegates about an upcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC), allegedly scheduled for March 26.
Within the same notice, several agenda items were listed, including a controversial proposal suggesting that Babu Owino should replace Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General.
Sifuna, who currently holds the position, has recently been at the center of internal party disagreements, making the claim appear believable to some readers.
However, Babu Owino quickly responded after the document was exposed as fake. In his reaction, he firmly rejected the idea of becoming Secretary General. Instead, he openly declared that his political ambition lies in a higher position within the party.
“I am interested in becoming the Party Leader, not the Secretary General. Edwin Sifuna remains the Secretary General,” Babu stated on his social media pages while sharing the same circular and clarifying his stance.
Beyond the issue of Babu’s alleged nomination, the fake notice also outlined other supposed leadership changes that would be discussed during the NDC.
This added more confusion among party supporters, especially at a time when ODM is preparing for a major internal meeting.
The situation comes as ODM gears up for what is expected to be a historic National Delegates Conference, scheduled for March 27. This will be the party’s first major gathering following the death of its long-time leader Raila Odinga, a moment that has left a significant leadership gap within the party.
However, the planned conference has not been without controversy. A faction within the party known as the Linda Mwananchi group, which is associated with Edwin Sifuna, has openly rejected the legitimacy of the upcoming NDC. The group argues that the process of calling such a meeting must strictly follow the party’s constitution.
According to this faction, only the Secretary General has the legal authority to convene a National Delegates Conference.
As a result, they have announced plans to hold a separate, parallel meeting on the same day, further highlighting the deep divisions within the party.
On the other hand, another group within ODM, often referred to as the Linda Ground faction, has defended the planned conference. This faction argues that the party constitution provides a broader framework on how the NDC can be convened.
They maintain that while the Secretary General plays a role, it is mainly to notify members rather than to solely decide on calling the meeting.
The ongoing disagreements between these factions show the internal struggles ODM is currently facing as it tries to reorganize its leadership and direction.
With conflicting interpretations of the party constitution and rising political ambitions among key figures, the upcoming days are likely to be critical in shaping the future of the party.
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