NDC primaries in Upper East record casualties for 3 sitting MPs

Dominic Azumah Azimbe, MP Garu

Compiled by Correspondent Isaac Asare     

Yesterday’s nationwide NDC presidential and parliamentary primaries ended peacefully in the Upper East Region.  

Turnout was relatively good though voting at the initial stage recorded an abysmal turn out. 

The exercise began at exactly 7 am in all the387polling centres in the region with exception of Chiana-Paga Constituency which has been put on hold for a later date due to some outstanding issues. 

In all 45 parliamentary aspirants including sitting MPs contested in the race. Moreover, 154,773 card bearing members of the party were expected to partake in the exercise in 13 out of 15 constituencies. 

There were three female aspirants contesting along their men folks. They were Vida Yakong Nyagre, a strong contender to the Nabdam DCE, Vivian Anarfo. 

Both were contesting for the Nabdam seat with Hajia Laadi Ayamba, seeking re-election as sitting MP for the Pusiga Constituency. 

There were six legal practitioners, four DCEs, two health workers and twelve sitting MPs competing in their respective constituencies. 

On record, it is said to be the highest number of aspirants in the history of the party’s parliamentary primaries in the region. 

Opam Brown Akolbire, MP Bolga Central

At the end of voting, some sitting MPs lost in their quest to retain their seats. Incumbent MP for Bolgatanga Central constituency, Opam-Brown Akolbire, was outwitted by financial analyst, Isaac Adongo. 

Mr Opam-Brown polled 2,956 as against Isaac Adongo who had 4,219. Meanwhile, Lawyer, Abraham Amaliba came second by polling 3,052 to beat George Gamson who had 906 of the total number of votes cast. 

Isaac Adongo will face NPPs, Rex Asaga in next year’s parliamentary elections. 

Sitting MP for Binduri, Ben Noah Azure also suffered defeat in the hands of Dr Robert Kuganab-Lem. Dr Kuganab secured 4,387 while the sitting MP had 2,725 votes to beat Stephen Atubiga who came close with 2,310 votes.

Ben Noah Azure, MP Binduri

 DCE for Garu Constituency, Alber Akuka also went the extra mile to beat incumbent MP, Dominic Azumah Azimbe, who doubles as Chairman, Parliamentary Select Committee in charge of Local government and Rural Development. 

Other contestants in the race were James Combert, Moses Kanduri and Thomas Awini Assibi. 

While some bigwigs fell out of the race, other sitting MPs sailed through with marginal results.  

In the Bawku West Constituency, sitting MP, Cletus Avoka, retained the seat by beating the current DCE, Simon Ayande Abango and former DCE, Alhaji Adam Moro. 

The MP who has been in office for close to twenty one year’s also won against Ebenezer Ndebilla Ayumbire, who came third with 1,706. MP for Pusiga, Hajia Laadi Ayamba gave her closest contender, Aboko Akudugu, a good run for his money by emerging as the winner.

 In the Bongo Constituency, Edward Bawa polled 4,001 beating the likes of Dr Avea Nsoh, former Upper East Regional Minister, who had 2,641 while Charles Adongo Bawa took the second position by polling 3,701 to beat Donatus Akamugri and Robert Awuka, who had 1,823 and 204 respectively. 

Kariam Appia was last with 159 votes.  

For Nabdam Constituency, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane won with 1,800 beating Dr Vida Yakong and sitting DCE for Nabdam, Vivian Anarfo. Donatus Anaba has 631 votes of the total number of votes cast. 

 In Bawku Central constituency, the incumbent MP for Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga won. The Environment, Science and Technology Minister will be entering parliament for the third time if he wins in the 2016 general elections.  

 Confirmed results indicates that Mahama Ayariga secured 7,309 votes as against 1,869 votes polled by former MCE, Abdulai Musah, whiles  building and roads engineer Alhaji Ibrahim Dori polled 517 votes. 

Earlier, there were concerns raised by members of Alhaji Dori’s campaign team over the absence of names of registered voters who had their names in the register during the party’s voters register exhibition exercise. 

In the Builsa North Constituency, Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga retained the seat when he outsmarted former MP for the area, Timothy Ataboadey with a wider margin. He polled 3891 while Mr Atoboadey clinched only 931.

 Moreover, Presidential Staffer, Dr Clement Apaak won in the Builsa South constituency against Dr Chrysogonus Anab and Emmanuel Akanpaaji.

 GBC NEWS