MINISTER KANIA PRESENTS 190 PAGED PETITION TO CHALLENGE TEREGO EAST NRM FLAG RESULTS

Minister Kania highlighting the 190 paged petition against the declared NRM flag Bearer in a press conference.

By Dramadri Federick
Arua City

The State Minister for Urban Development, Obiga Kania, has petitioned the NRM Elections Disputes Tribunal challenging Babanga Wilfred Erima’s victory as the NRM flag bearer for Terego East Parliamentary seat during the recently held RNM primary elections.

Kania, who is also the party chairman in Terego District, filed his petition on the last day for accepting complaints related to the July 17, 2025, NRM parliamentary elections, in which he was unsuccessful.

Kania’s 190 paged petition alleges that, the electoral process was marred by widespread illegalities, voter suppression, and systemic disenfranchisement, which significantly compromised the election’s integrity.

Through his legal team lead by Dramadri Augustino of Messrs Bulwark Advocates, Kania accused security agencies and opposition political parties of deliberately disrupting the NRM primaries.

“The opposition Party in Terego Infiltrated the campaigns in Terego, they went rampant, they became violent and imported non registered people from places like Arua city to go and disrupt the elections. So, there were a lot of irregularities in that process, we as the executives of the NRM party we do not regard those results as been primary elections of the NRM.” Kania stated.

Kania is now seeking the tribunal's intervention to either dismiss the results or declare him the party’s flag bearer for Terego East.

“I have filed petition about these elections asking the Tribunal to either Nullify it or declare me, we are positively waiting for the results.” Kania said
Animu Angupale, the Vice Chairperson of the NRM, who also lost in the Terego West parliamentary primaries, expressed that the election results were shocking for those who did not win. She pointed out that the voting environment was poor, with some polling stations experiencing disruptions, which affected the fairness of the process.

“It is my first time seeing NRM elections marred by violence, very many voters were not NRM members.” Angupale explained.

Babanga Wilfred Erima, the duly declared NRM parliamentary candidate for Terego East, stated in an interview with Radio Pacis that, Kania’s team caused more harm than good by coercing agents. He expressed confidence that the petition would not affect his nomination and stated he is prepared for any legal proceedings.

“The incumbent and his goons disrupted voting in Ndindia, in Kubala and many other places, his team tore the declaration sheets in Obi and I have it on record. Let Kania Point out one area where I and my team disrupted voting. This is so absurd, it is sickening for me to see an adult person of a minister caliber giving baseless allegations,” Babanga reiterated.

In the election, Kania, the petitioner, received 7,718 votes, placing second behind Babanga Wilfred Erima, who garnered 11,422 votes. Other candidates included Santus Innocent Kingi with 983 votes and Draga Joy Carmelo with 683 votes.