Those saying that I was not validly elected, I challenge them - Oburu Odinga

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Odinga has hit back at critics within his party questioning his legitimacy, daring them to confront him at the party’s forthcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC).

Speaking during a funeral ceremony in Siaya County on Friday, January 9, Oburu dismissed claims that his elevation to the party’s top seat was irregular, insisting that the NDC remains the only legitimate platform to resolve internal disputes.

He urged dissenting members to stop prosecuting their grievances in public forums and instead channel them through official party structures, warning that continued infighting risked weakening the party ahead of critical political decisions.

“I challenge those saying I was not validly elected to meet me at the National Delegates Conference, which I will convene very soon,” Oburu said.

  “That is where these matters should be addressed, not in the media.”

Oburu’s remarks came against the backdrop of growing divisions within ODM following reports of a closed-door meeting held on Thursday by a group of senior party figures. 

The meeting reportedly brought together party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, former Attorney General Amos Wako and Ruth Odinga, among others.

After the meeting, Babu Owino openly declared his ambition to take over the party leadership, arguing that ODM required an urgent leadership reset. 

Speaking to NTV, the lawmaker demanded the immediate convening of an NDC, claiming that due process had not been followed in installing the current party leadership.

“What we are asking for is a National Delegates Conference with immediate effect. There was no proper procedure in how the new leadership was put in place,” Owino said, adding that the party needed fresh direction “as soon as possible.”

In response, Oburu said he was already planning to call an NDC to restore unity and decisively address leadership questions threatening to destabilise the party.

Beyond internal wrangles, Oburu also defended his role in negotiating ODM’s participation in the broad-based political arrangement with President William Ruto’s administration. 

He rejected assertions by critics that the arrangement only succeeded due to the influence of ODM leader Raila Odinga.

According to Oburu, he personally chaired all negotiations between ODM and the government, including talks that culminated in the appointment of ODM figures Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya to President Ruto’s Cabinet.

“I want to assure those saying only Raila could handle these negotiations that I chaired all the meetings with Ruto’s side,” Oburu said. “I was the chairperson in the discussions that led to the Cabinet appointments.”

Looking ahead, Oburu revealed that ODM would this year formally begin negotiations on whether to renew its cooperation with the current administration. 

He said the party was in the process of constituting a negotiation team that would first engage partners in the existing arrangement before considering talks with other political formations.

He cautioned that the negotiations would be difficult and emphasised that the party’s bargaining power depended heavily on internal unity and strong grassroots membership.

“These negotiations will not be easy,” Oburu said. 

“What we get will depend on how united we are as a party and the strength of our membership.”

Oburu further disclosed that ODM was prepared to chart its own political path should coalition talks collapse, including contesting the next general election independently. 

In such a scenario, he said, the party’s constitution would automatically make him its presidential candidate.