Chaos rocks NDC elections

The constituency elections of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) which were held in the Eastern Region were characterised by chaos in some areas.

Reports said there was confusion in several constituencies in the region over the voting process.

In the New Juaben South Constituency in Koforidua, angry delegates destroyed ballot boxes and electoral materials and disrupted the exercise at the EREDEC Hotel where they were expected to elect their party executives.

The Electoral Commission (EC) officials had to flee for their lives, and it took the intervention of the Regional Police Command to control the irate delegates.

Some angry delegates could not control their temper because long after the Regional Chairman, Bismark Tawiah Boateng, had concluded his speech, there was still no voting.

By 12 noon the ballot papers had not arrived and it took the Deputy NDC Regional Secretary, Annor Dompreh, and a member of the electoral committee, Catherina Ayakwa, to explain issues to the angry delegates.

However, the about 1,242 angry delegates from 138 branches did not agree with the party officials about the delay in voting because they said they had been at the venue since 6am.

They insinuated that the regional executives were up to something sinister and threatened to boycott the exercise.

Aspirant Mystery Death

At Upper Manya Krobo, Asesewa, one of the aspiring Youth Organisers, identified as Freddy, died mysteriously on Saturday dawn before the commencement of the constituency elections.

It’s unclear what caused his death, but eyewitnesses claimed the deceased was seen campaigning on Friday evening.

Suspension of Polls

At Yilo Krobo, Somanya, elections did not come on due to some mistakes on the ballot papers.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that the ballot papers were printed with only the names and positions of candidates without their images.

The register did not also have the total number of the delegates expected to cast their ballot.

The incident infuriated most of the candidates and delegates who vented their spleen on the election committee members.

It emerged that the ballot papers and the register were brought to the venue in a party vehicle without any police escort, and that infuriated some party members who accused incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Amoatey, and some of the election committee members of scheming to disenfranchise some of the delegates.

At Nkawkaw, the election was suspended until further notice over issues of the eligibility of the delegates, among other wild allegations.

Shock Results

At Akwatia, the delegates astounded the incumbent Constituency Women’s Organiser Felicia Ama Darkoa.

She polled only three votes as against 44 votes obtained by one Marian Fouda.

The defeat of Madam Felicia Ama Darkoa came as a surprise to many since she was seen as the most popular candidate before the start of the election.

Vida Otchere polled 56 votes to beat her only contender Nancy Serwaa, who polled 38 votes to become the constituency deputy women’s organiser.

Kwame Mintah, on the other hand, polled 67 votes to beat his only contender, Bismarck Awuku, who polled 33 votes to become the Constituency Youth Organiser with Gyebi Bismark polling 76 votes to become the deputy youth organiser.

Suhum

In the Suhum Constituency, incumbent Youth Organsier, David Kofi Danso, polled six votes as against 99 votes by Yaw Seidu, aka Yahuza, a serial caller.

A two-time contender, Yaw Opoku Okra, had 555 votes to win the chairmanship position by beating his contender, Alhaji Moro, former chairman (368 votes).

From Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, Ebo Bruce-Quansah said over 600 aspirants contested for various positions across the region.

There were also some last-minute activities that hindered the elections in Bolgatanga Central and Navrongo Central.

The election in the Navrongo Central had to be postponed due to preparations towards the funeral rites of the Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area, Navro-Pio Dr. Augustine Atudiku Balinia Adda, which is scheduled for June 29, 2018.

The Bolgatanga Central Constituency could not hold its election due to a court injunction by a group of members protesting against some actions they deem irregular.

Despite a petition forwarded to the Upper East Regional Office and Legal suit threat against one of the aspirant in the Zebilla constituency, the election was held peacefully because the petitioners could not prove their allegations against the aspirant who was contesting for the position of the communication officer.

John Asanda emerged as the Zebilla constituency communication officer, after two other aspirants stepped down for him to go unopposed.

The Bongo Constituency election was conducted successfully, with all old constituency executives retained, except the youth organizer, Abariga Isaac, who lost to the new youth organizer, Alfred Awini.

Over 1,000 delegates participated.

Bawku Central, despite the undue delays, saw a peaceful election as over 1,000 delegates in good standing voted for a new set of constituency executives, leaving no old executive at post.

The new Bawku Central Constituency Chairman, Mohammed Awindago Ndego, polled 615 votes out of 1075 valid votes cast.

Amadu Issaka Wabugu Karim narrowly won the constituency secretary position with 291 votes out of the 1080 valid votes cast.

Chairman Ndego has promised to ensure that there is reconciliation between new executives and former executives in order to keep a united front in the constituency.

The Binduri Constituency Chairman, Simon Aruk Azimbe Azarob, was elected unopposed.

Other seven position holders, including the vice chairman, deputy treasurer, women organizer, were also elected unopposed.

The Binduri Constituency Organizer position was keenly contested and won by Atiiga Salam with 354 votes out of 691 votes cast and communication officer position was won by Abugri John with 457 votes.

Almost all the newly-elected executives vowed to unite the party to capture power from the NPP in the 2020 general elections.