By Agwanda Saye

A petitioner has blamed his defeat during the Siaya Gubernatorial race on former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Dr William Oduol told Justice Aggrey Muchelule that he could have won the seat had Odinga supported him.

The petitioner told the court that Odinga instead opted to support his rival Rasanga Amoth who eventually won the race.

Dr Oduol said that he was apprehensive that he could not be given the ODM certificate during the party primaries.

He told Muchelule that he opted to quit the ODM party after Gem Mp Jakoyo Midiwo said that the party has its owners.

The petitioner said Midiwo went on a propaganda campaign against and even ejected him from a tallying centre in Gem using youths

Oduol said in his evidence in chief that he decided to join the NAPK after he learnt that the ODM slot had been reserved for Dr Oburu Oginga who was also eyeing the seat.

Earlier Dismas Wakla for the petitioner and his colleague Richard Kwach pointed out to the court that both Oduol and Rasanga garnered more votes than CORD presidential contender Raila Odinga in Bondo who was vying for the presidency.

He said ODM enjoys fanatical following in Luo Nyanza but there is way the people of Bondo could have voted more than Odinga who wanted to be the fourth president of the country.

Wakla said there was massive ballot stuffing in Rarieda, Gem and Bondo in favour of the Amoth, the third respondent.

He called for vote scrutiny or a recount in Siaya County.

Gumbo argued that the IEBC had only 18 months within which to prepare for the general elections amidst extreme difficult circumstances which should be understood by the petitioners.

He said grounds raised by the petitioners are based on generalities from the bar.

The respondent through lawyer James K’Opot said the third respondent can be held accountable for mistakes committed by the IEBC.

He argued that a free and fair election does not necessarily mean a win for the petitioner.

ENDS.