Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama has told National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine to stop his wishful thinking, minutes after the singer-turned-politician asked the head of the electoral body to resign.
On December 15, Bobi Wine met Byabakama and EC commissioners in Kampala to answer queries on his continued flouting of Covid19 prevention and election guidelines.
After the meeting, Bobi Wine claimed he had asked Byabakama to step down if he couldn’t commit to deliver a free, fair and credible 2021 presidential election.
“We told Mr Byabakama that if he cannot superintend over an independent Electoral Commission, then he should resign,” Bobi Wine told reporters.
Minutes later, Byabakama responded to Bobi Wine, saying such reasoning was wishful.
“I think that is to me very distant wishful thinking,” the EC boss said.
He assured Ugandans the commission was still in charge of the elections.
“I want to assure you the Electoral Commission has not broken down,” he noted.
“The evidence is there: indelible, clear-cut evidence; that the commission is on the top of its game.”
Opposition politicians have severally expressed their lack of confidence in Byabakama’s commitment to hold free and fair elections.
Byabakama worked in the directorate of public prosecutions and was critical in the trial of opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
Prior to his appointment to head the elections body, he was a judge.
