"Bring it on!" – Oburu Oginga dares ODM members eyeing his leadership position
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Oginga has thrown down the gauntlet to anyone interested in challenging him for the party's top position, boldly inviting them to step forward when the time comes for elections.
Speaking during the burial of his uncle's wife in Alego Usonga constituency, Siaya County, Oburu declared that he is fully prepared for a National Delegates Conference (NDC) to democratically elect the party's leadership.
A group of young ODM leaders has recently been pushing for fresh party elections following the passing of former party leader Raila Odinga, arguing that members should be given the chance to choose new leadership.
"But those who are saying that Oburu is not validly elected, I challenge them — if they say it's NDC, let us go with them to NDC. I will call it very soon," he declared.
Oburu went further, outlining the high-stakes political landscape ahead:
"2026 is the year of negotiations for any arrangements. Either we are going in partnership with the UDA or any other party, or we're going alone as ODM — and if it's the latter, Oburu Oginga is the presidential candidate."
Backing Oburu’s position, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi firmly dismissed any notion of a leadership vacuum in the party:
"The matter of ODM party leadership was settled at the National Governing Council (NGC) acting on behalf of NDC. So anybody imagining that there's some vacuum in ODM leadership is daydreaming. It cannot be that unless you're the one leading, nothing can happen. Who are you?"
The statements signal a clear message from the current ODM leadership: the party’s structure remains intact, and any challengers will have to prove their case at the delegates’ conference.
