In a face off debate between Oyam North County by-election candidates, hosted by NBS TV on Monday night, July 3, 2023, Freddie Newton Okello, the FDC flag bearer made shocking claims in which he branded Eunice Apio Atuke of UPC, Samuel Okello Junior of NRM and Daniel Okello of NUP to be NRM leaning.

Okello dramatically said that he is competing against three NRM candidates who he coded as NRM A, NRM B and NRM C.

He added that sympathy votes no longer work in Lango Sub region claiming that, this gives him advantage over Samuel Okello Junior, the official NRM candidate and the rest of the NRM leaning candidates in the race.

Okello Junior is the son of the late (Rtd) Col Charles Engola Okello, State Minister of Labor, Employment and Industrial relations, who was recently gunned down by his bodyguard at his home in Kisasi.

The claim by Newton Okello that the other candidates are NRM leaning was further geared up by Samuel Okello during the course of the debate, who asked Apio to differentiate between her party and the ruling party.

The UPC candidate however, decided to dodge the question and called for an off-air explanation. In her conclusion while responding to Samuel Okello, cautioned NRM to respect the rules of the by-election and keep the ground levelled for all candidates claiming that, some electorates are already decrying of intimidation from the NRM leaning security.

The claim by the UPC candidate was re-agitated by FDC Candidate who said that the ground for elections is not levelled with some members from NRM castigating violence and discouraging people from voting.

Ahead of the by election slated to be held on Thursday, July 6, 2023, President Museveni has camp in Oyam North to garner votes for Samuel Okello Junior, the official NRM flag bearer.