As ODM Leader Raila Odinga eyes the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, a succession storm has rocked the country's opposition party.

Deputy party leaders, former Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his former Mombasa counterpart Ali Hassan Joho have since emerged as possible successors.

This is rumoured to have caused the formation of factions within the party with each of the leaders seeking ground to succeed the former premier.

The succession race suffered yet another obstacle at the party's National Governing Committee (NGC) meeting held at the Bomas of Kenya on Thursday, April 18, 2024. ODM Chairman John Mbadi described the matter as unhealthy.

The Suba South Member of Parliament reiterated that Odinga remains ODM's supreme honcho wether he bags the Addis Ababa job or not.

“Let us not entertain unhealthy debate we have our party leader Raila Odinga whether he succeeds for the AUC post or not, he is still our leader,” Mbadi stated.

He urged the waring factions to hold their horses and build a rapport that could in future sway other party members into supporting their quest. 

“You have to convince us that you mean well and about your policies. It’s not just about telling us that you’re a party leader and we must accept to follow you,” Mbadi said.

The meeting was intended to deliberate on the adoption of key policies ahead of the party's phased grassroot elections slated for April 27.

National elections will follow the grassroot polls, setting stage for the party to elect new officials in over 10 years.

The last elections in 2014 were marred by chaos after "men in black" showed up at the Bomas of Kenya and damaged all equipment including ballot boxes, demanding access to the party register.

Oparanya and Joho are said to be lining up leaders behind them, gearing up to succeed Odinga as the top dog in ODM.