Migori governor Zacharia Okoth Obado has decamped from PDP to ODM.
The Governor made the announcement on Friday when he hosted Cord leader Raila Odinga during the homecoming party of Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.
Mohammed was among the eight legislators arrested and charged and detained over hate speech early last month.
Obado said he was never in Jubilee, despite the party defecting from Cord after the 2013 polls.
“I will seek my re-election using ODM ticket and I am happy I have declared my stand [in public] to keep away my detractors,” he said.
He called for free and fair nominations, saying he was ready to square it off with nine other aspirants eyeing the seat.
Speaking after receiving Obado, Raila said ODM party primaries will be done earlier to ensure any fall out caused by sham nominations are dealt with in time ahead of the 2017 general elections.
“Nominations will be free and fair from governor’s to MCA seats; that means I will work with everybody seeking the ticket despite elected ones,” he said.
Raila said Obado was now in the race with other Migori governor aspirants, adding that all of them “are my people, anybody who you will pick will be mine”.
The race for Migori governor ticket has attracted former Rongo MP Ochillo Ayacko, Anne Omodho Anyanga from Nyatike, and George Oywer from Uriri, among others.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong who attended the event said anyone’s closeness to the Cord leader should not scare away other aspirants.
“Personally, my friendship with Raila should not scare away other aspirants, we need free and fair nominations from ODM,” he said.
Raila lauded the courage shown by Junet and others arrested together with him.
“Junet is my attack dog in parliament because he has a voice, he counters majority Leader Adan Duale who is Jubilee attack dog,” Raila said.
On IEBC, Raila called on the commissioners to resign and allow for the electoral body reforms.
“I am sure of getting votes from my strongholds. What I want is my supporters to register and cast their vote. The rest will be on me to ensure we get into State House,” he said.
