The Independent and Electoral Commission (IEBC) has nullified the nomination of Wiper candidate Wavinya Ndeti, for the Machakos gubernatorial race.

According to IEBC’s Dispute Resolution Tribunal, Wavinya has contravened the election laws since at the time of her nomination on a wiper ticket; she was still a member of her previous Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU).

The ruling followed a successful petition by MCA Peter Kyalo. The petitioner, a member of Wiper, argued that Ndeti should be disqualified from the race.

Kyalo argued that Ndeti became a member of Wiper on April 6, a day after the defection deadline and that her nomination was irregular and unlawful.

“This committee has considered submissions from both parties and has come to the conclusion that the complaint has merit and is therefore allowed,”. Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati said on Thursday.

Wavinya can, however, appeal the decision at the High Court.

Wavinya Ndeti won the repeat Wiper Machakos governor nominations with 227,947 votes against Bernard Kiala’s 4,508 and has been touted as the candidate that would give the incumbent governor Alfred Mutua, a run for his money.

The former Kathiani MP previous win had been nullified the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal on grounds of and the party ordered to repeat the nomination exercise. The verdict had been reached after Machakos Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala challenged his competitor Wavinya Ndeti on the grounds that Wiper party disobeyed a court order that had stopped the nominations.