The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has been taken to court over an alleged plan to create a new leadership position for Winnie Odinga.

A party member, Evans Amuga, filed a case under a certificate of urgency at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), seeking to block what he terms as an irregular attempt to elevate Winnie within the party hierarchy.

On Tuesday, presiding member Gad Gathu-Karagu directed that the case be served to all respondents, allowing them to respond before the matter is mentioned for directions.

Those listed as respondents include ODM, Winnie Odinga, George Aladwa, and the Registrar of Political Parties.

The petitioner is seeking urgent intervention ahead of the party’s upcoming National Delegates Convention (NDC).

Amuga argues that ODM is attempting to introduce a non-existent position—reportedly “Nairobi’s number-one party delegate”—and use it to influence Winnie’s elevation to deputy party leader.

He claims that such a move could unfairly sway internal elections and violate the party’s constitution.

“The election of deputy party leaders may be unduly influenced by the pre-emptive endorsement made at the county level,” the application states.

He is asking the tribunal to declare the alleged position null and void.

The petitioner also raised concerns about what he described as the risk of entrenching dynastic leadership within the party.

According to him, allowing such a move could set a precedent where leadership positions are informally “inherited,” rather than filled through constitutional processes.

He warned that this could undermine the authority of the NDC, which is the party’s top decision-making organ mandated to elect officials.

The case follows a meeting of ODM delegates from Nairobi’s 17 constituencies held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, where Winnie was reportedly endorsed for a senior party role.

The position in question was previously associated with her late father, Raila Odinga, who passed away in October 2025.

Despite the legal challenge, Amuga clarified that he is not seeking to block Winnie from attending the convention.

As an East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP, she remains eligible to participate as a delegate. However, he insists she should not assume any position that is not formally recognised in ODM’s constitution.

The tribunal is expected to give further directions as the case unfolds, with the outcome likely to shape internal party dynamics ahead of the NDC.