FDC national mobiliser Ingrid Turinawe has lost the race to represent the party in the East Africa Legislative Assembly [EALA].
In elections held on Monday afternoon at the party’s headquarters in Najanankumbi, Florence Ibi Ekwau defeated nine contestants polling 20 votes cast by the FDC National Executive Committee members compared to her closest rival Ingrid Turinawe who got 18 votes.
Nine candidates, including Wilberforce Kyambadde, who polled four votes, Innocent Ayo (6), Paga Gloria (5) and Patrick Baguma (6), among others had been tussling for the single seat allocated to the party.
Uganda is allocated nine seats and are shared between the ruling party [NRM], opposition parties and independents.
Last week Parliament chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga also cleared special interest groups to contest for the nine slots.
In a message sent to different FDC members Ingrid Turinawe thanked her supporters but informed them that she had lost the race to Ibi Ekwau.
Ibi Ekwau, 41, is the former Woman MP for Kaberamaido District.
She is a teacher by profession and has served FDC in different capacities including shadow minister for land and physical infrastructure in the opposition shadow cabinet.
FDC did not participate in the previous elections after lodging a complaint in court challenging the allocation of slot in the regional parliament.
NRM at the weekend nominated all 43 members who had expressed interest to fill the six slots allocated to the party.
The party, which is yet to hold its elections, unlike others is allocated more seats due to its numerical strength in Parliament.
In a message published by FDC social media platforms the party congratulated Ibi Ekwau on her new election to the regional parliament.
“We salute your courage and thank you [NEC members] for your support and believing in for fairness, justice and democracy. Let’s welcome Florence [Ibi Ekwau] to a new leadership role at EALA,” a message posted on FDC social media platforms read in part.
