Pader court dismisses Odonga Otto's Aruu County vote recount petition after ballot boxes found with broken seals

Pader Chief Magistrate Martin Kirya dismissed a petition by former MP Samuel Odonga Otto seeking a recount of the Aruu County parliamentary vote, which the Electoral Commission had declared for incumbent Christopher Komakech by 26 votes (10,455 to 10,429). The magistrate ruled a recount could not go ahead because an inspection had found ballot boxes with broken or loose seals, suggesting possible tampering. Odonga, who had alleged ballot stuffing and wrongful invalidation of at least 175 of his votes, said he would petition the High Court once results are gazetted.