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Dr Nam calls Benjamin Okii’s LCF election a sham after disqualification

28 October 2026, 2:48 pm

A snapshot of the declaration form announcing Okii as Won Nyaci. Photo by Bobson Opio.

By Frank Oyugi

Lira City — A fresh dispute has emerged within the Lango Cultural Foundation after former Prime Minister Dr Richard Nam was blocked from contesting in a parallel election for the position of Won Nyaci (Paramount Chief). The controversial exercise, organised by a faction loyal to the late Paramount Chief Yosam Odur Ebii, saw Benjamin Okii declared elected unopposed on Wednesday, further deepening the leadership division in the sub-region.

Dr Nam, the clan head of Okii Amat, strongly protested the election outcome, accusing the faction’s electoral body of gross irregularities, bias and unfairness. Addressing reporters after the incident, Dr Nam said he presented himself for nomination with Shs 5 million in cash, only to be turned away and disqualified from the race.

The former Prime Minister expressed frustration, alleging a double standard in the treatment of candidates by electoral officials. He said that while his cash payment was rejected, his opponent, Benjamin Okii, the clan leader of Okii Bura, was cleared to contest after presenting a cheque of Shs 2 million. Dr Nam pointed out that both payments fell short of the official nomination fee of Shs 15 million, arguing that Okii’s clearance amounted to procedural misconduct intended to lock him out of the race.

Following Dr Nam’s exclusion, the electoral body declared Benjamin Okii the Won Nyaci of the Lango Cultural Foundation, claiming he was the only candidate to meet the required clearance criteria. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from some clan leaders (Owitong), who view the exercise as a sham intended to install Okii without open competition.

The election controversy comes amid an ongoing legal and administrative dispute over the legitimate cultural leadership of Lango. The official government gazette and mainstream leadership recognise Eng. Dr Michael Moses Odongo Okune as the legitimate Won Nyaci of the Lango Cultural Institution. Analysts and local leaders say parallel elections conducted by the breakaway Lango Cultural Foundation have no legal standing in government gazettes and serve only to prolong factional divisions within the sub-region.