The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership is now warning of a possible tearing down of the party following vicious factional wars due to succession politics.
This as party luminaries are embroiled in a bitter fight to take over leadership of the opposition political outfit from long-serving boss Raila Odinga who is gunning for the African Union Commission Chairmanship.
Speaking while addressing the press on Wednesday, ODM National Chairman John Mbadi urged caution and tampering of ambitions among those trying to take over from Mr. Odinga.
“I fear that the actions and utterances of the last few days are not in the best interest of the party and those of the party leader who is keen on an orderly, inclusive and impactful agenda of the party,” stated Mbadi.
Mbadi insisted that Mr. Odinga’s absence will not cause a leadership vacuum in the party as there are two deputy leaders that have been entrusted to guide the party during the transition period.
While calling upon former Governors Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, who are the deputy party leaders, to take charge and guide the party, Mbadi challenged other party leaders and members to recognize them until all the processes required are in place for elections.
“In the absence of the party leader, there are two deputy party leaders. Some of our members are operating as if in the absence of the party leader there is no party leadership, ODM has leadership, we also have the Chairman but we work together,” he noted.
Mbadi went ahead to express concern with factions forming within the party and warned that the ambitions of individual members could eventually bring down the party.
“I am just reminding our members, that you could be jumping the bridge and the river is too wide. Kindly, restrain yourselves and do it in a manner that you are not disruptive, ambitions can be very disruptive to a political party; they might not build a party if not tempered, I am equally very ambitions but it must be moderated,” he stated.
The ODM party chair also indicated that the planned grassroots elections scheduled for next week could be postponed because of lack of an elections committee.
According to Mbadi, a decision on whether the party will proceed with the said elections will be taken on Tuesday next week when the central committee meets.
“There could be some challenges to that, because our elections coordinating committee is not in place, so we may not have party elections in April. But we will decide that next week and indicate when we will have elections, it has nothing to do with the infighting,” he said.
