57 year old former Chairman of the Ghana
Olympics Committee, Benson Tongo Baba
has been elected as the new parliamentary candidate for the Talensi
Constituency on the ticket of the ruling National Democratic Congress, NDC.
He
secured 10, 366 votes out of the total valid votes of 24,499 of the July, 7
Talensi by-election.
The Parliamentary
candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Thomas Duanab Pearson Wuni came close with
6,845 votes, a difference of 9 votes polled by, Dr. Michael Wumbeogo Namalteng
of the People’s National Convention who
had 6,836 votes.
The Progressive People’s Party, PPP, which has Dr Paa Kwesi
Nduom as its flagbearer secured 214 votes to beat James Mambora Doubil of the
New Vision Party. NVP.
The PPP had Joseph Toatoba as its parliamentary
candidate. Other parties that contested in the by-election include the
Independent People’s Party, IPP, the United Progressive Party, UPP, and the
Ghana Freedom Party which has Madam Akua Donkor as its flagbearer.
After a
successful voting exercise, the total number of votes cast stood at 25,381 out
of 39,525 registered voters. Rejected votes was 882 and the total percentage
turnout was 64.22 percent.
Voting was
peaceful despite some few skirmishes between supporters of the two major
parties, the NPP and the NDC. This was characterized with accusations and
counter accusations from both political divide.
The over 300 combine police and
military personnel deployed to the 74 polling stations across the constituency
had a hectic time controlling both factions, who were alleged to be natives of Tamale
called “Azoka Boys” from the NDC and the ‘Invisible forces” from the NPP.
In the course of
the scuffle, a vehicle belonging to one of the DCEs was smashed and vandalized at
the full glare of the police. No arrest was made.
Two persons were arrested by the police at Winkongo in Talensi in the Upper East Region for possessing AK47 weapons.
The two, (names withheld)were apprehended when the vehicle in which they were using was
accosted by security officials at a barrier just as it was about entering the Tongo
community.
Earlier, a
gentleman from a community called Shea was arrested and handed over to the
police for attempting to mislead electorates to vote for his candidate using a
sample or miniature voting sheet.
Voting in the 22
electoral areas of the constituency ended at 5:00 pm.
Sorting and counting was
done at the respective polling centres under the strict supervision of party
agents and electoral officials.
Provisional results were however sent to the
collation center at Tongo.
The results were
carefully tabulated and compiled by senior EC officials both from the region
and at the headquarters.
Present at the collation center was the Deputy Chairman In-charge of
Operations at the EC, Sulemana Amadu.
The declaration
of the results was done at exactly, 11: 50 pm. Mr Benson Tongo Baba, popularly
known as BT Baba of the NDC was officially declared winner after polling the
highest number of votes to beat his seven other contestants.
His victory was
received with wild jubilation from enthusiastic supporters and sympathizers of
the NDC.
Some of them
took to the streets chanting songs for Mr. B.T Baba. Others were engaged in
motorbike display to express their joy over the turn of event.
Interestingly,
some political parties refused to append their signature to the certified
results on grounds that they were not treated fairly as far as the conduct of
the exercise was concerned.
One of the aggrieved parties was the PNC, its
General Secretary, Bernard Monarh, described the election as fraudulent, and
indicating that appending his signature to the results will mean a great
disservice to his party and called for a recount.
His plea was
denied by officials of the EC. The NPP on the other hand also refused to append
their signature to the result based on a similar complaint.
In response, Mr
Amadu Sulemana, said the election was conducted in a free and transparent
manner and therefore disagree with the aggrieved parties.
He took the
opportunity to commend the people of Talensi and the security agencies for
their sense of maturity, professionalism and responsiveness.
Mr Sulemana,
lamented on the number of rejected votes and said the EC was going to intensify
its public education on the use of ballot sheets.
He added that the EC had
taken a cue from the discrepancies that erupted in the course of the Talensi
by-election.
The electoral process he announced will be used as a litmus test
to enable the commission conduct a more credible election come 2016.
The Talensi seat
became vacant after the incumbent NPP MP, Robert Nachinab Duameng Mosore was installed
Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area.
GBC NEWS
END
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