Former Police Spokesman Charles Owino Wahongo has turned his back on UDM candidate Nicholas Gumbo and withdrawn from being his running mate in the Siaya Governor race.

Owino was initially seeking the governor race on an ODM ticket before he jumped ship to United Democratic Movement (UDM) after a fallout over the party’s nominations in Siaya.

Charles Owino and Nicholas Gumbo. PHOTO/COURTESY

He is reported to be headed back to the Kenya Police Service and expected to take up the position of Director of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

The move pushes the former Rarieda MP back to the drawing table to pick a new running mate in the race in which he faces Siaya Senator James Orengo deputized by William Oduol.

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Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had set the deadline for all governor candidates to select and submit names of their running mates for May 16, 2022.

According to a local publication, UDM Secretary-General David Ohito said IEBC had given the party affiliated to Azimio a 24-hour allowance to submit the name of Owino’s replacement.

"UDM Party has received and accepted Charles Owino's withdrawal as the running mate of Nicholas Gumbo in the Siaya gubernatorial contest," Ohito told the local media house.