BREAKING!! Arua Youths Protest As Reports Show How Hon Obindu Who Scored Highly During The NUP Vetting & Has Strong Support In Arua Central Will Be Unfairly Denied The Ticket

Tensions are running high in Arua Central after reports emerged that the National Unity Platform (NUP) may deny its most popular aspirant, Hon. Obindu Jackson, the party flag. The news has triggered protests from angry youths and grassroots supporters, who warn they could shift allegiance to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) if Obindu is sidelined.

Hon. Obindu, who scored top marks during the party vetting exercise, is celebrated as a people’s candidate in Arua. With years of active community involvement, he has built a solid support base that many believe makes him the natural choice to carry the NUP ticket in the coming elections.

But unrest broke out after claims that insiders are lobbying for Asega Habib Jojo, a close associate of influential figure Kababi Moses, to be handed the flag instead. This alleged favoritism has provoked outrage among the youth, who accuse party officials of betraying the very principles of democracy and fairness that NUP stands for.

Local youth leaders insist that ignoring Obindu’s popularity would be a political disaster, warning that mass defections to NRM are inevitable if the party leadership imposes a candidate rejected by the grassroots.

The situation escalated further when Dr. Zerdriga Lina, a senior NUP official in the region, threatened to resign should the leadership disregard the choice of Arua Central’s electorate. Lina stressed that the party must lead by example by respecting the will of the people rather than bowing to internal connections.

Observers say the standoff exposes deeper tensions within NUP, as it struggles to balance internal power plays with grassroots expectations. With Arua considered a symbolic stronghold for the party, many warn that sidelining Obindu could damage NUP’s reputation not only in the district but across the country.

Meanwhile, Obindu’s supporters remain defiant, vowing to keep mobilizing until justice is done. They argue that his values of accountability, service, and direct engagement reflect the very vision on which NUP was built.

As the protests grow louder, pressure is mounting on the NUP leadership to make a final decision. The outcome could either reaffirm the party’s democratic credibility or plunge it into a wave of discontent that risks weakening its electoral base.