Voters without ODM membership cards will not be allowed to participate in the South Mugirango nominations scheduled for Friday.

The party’s national elections board secretary, Dr Daniel Misoi, said that the mandate to nominate the candidate for the June 10 by-election lies in the hands of party members and not all voters.

“Party nominations are always conducted by voters with party membership, national and elector’s cards,” Dr Misoi said.

Speaking in Kisii on Thursday during a meeting with aspirants, he said that everything had been taken care of and the exercise will kick off as planned.

Dr Misoi assured the candidates of a free and fair nomination process. The board has since cleared six candidates to battle it out in the primaries.

They include Mr Ibrahim Ochoi, Mr Gideon Moreka, and Mr Henry Nyabuto. Others are Mr Zebedeo Nyabuto, Mr Kepha Marube and Mr David Okachi.

“We want the voters to nominate a leader of their own choice without any external influence,” Dr Misoi said.

He dismissed claims that the party had already issued a certificate to one of the candidates