4 Parties battle it out in Talensi by-election
Four political parties are now set with their respective candidates to contest the Telensi by-election.
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The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the dominant opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), the People's National Convention (PNC) and the Progressive People's Party (PPP) are ready with their candidates for the by-election slated for July 7, 2015.
Formidable candidates
For one thing, all the parties contesting the by-election believe their candidates have what it takes to grab the Talensi seat.The parties have described the by-election as a unique opportunity for them to capture the seat and go to Parliament.
While the NDC has a strong conviction that its candidate, Mr B.T. Baba, 67, a retired Deputy Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service, can recapture the seat which, according to some NDC party faithful, "they gave to the NPP as a loan in 2012", the NPP also has confidence in Mr Thomas Pearson Wuni, a 51-year-old accountant at the Nsawam Government Hospital, as the man who can convincingly win the seat for the party.
The PNC's Dr Michael Wumbego, 43, a lecturer at the School of Allied Sciences and Head of Clinical Skills for the Schools of Allied Health and Medicine of the University for Development Studies (UDS), also wields some power for the PNC based on the fact that he stood on the ticket of the party in the 2008 and 2012 parliamentary elections. Although he lost in both elections, he came third in each of the elections so the PNC also believes in him.
The PPP's Mr Joseph Toatoba, although a first timer, has the support of his party. Mr Toatoba, 42, is a banker with the Bawku branch of the GN Bank which belongs to the party's founder, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom.
He is also a trained teacher. He is a graduate from the UDS - Nyankpala campus. If he is successful at the Talensi polls, he will become the first candidate of the party to enter Parliament, thus the party is throwing its weight behind him too. With the exception of Dr Wumbego of the PNC, the remaining candidates are coming on board for the first time.
Strength over the years
However, political pundits believe the by-election will be a straight contest between the NPP and the NDC. The political pendulum could swing to either side depending on how best the two giant parties are able to market their candidates to convince the electorate.
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The period for the by-election, which is barely two weeks away, is however, short. Only the NDC and NPP have had the chance to occupy the seat since 1992, with the NDC holding it five times out of six.
The NDC's Mr John Akologo Tia, a local legend in Talensi, had held that seat on all five occasions, while the NPP's Mr Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore, now the Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area, held the seat until his recent enskinment and subsequent resignation as the Member of Parliament for the area.
Key watchers of the parliamentary elections since 1992 believe that arguably, there are three issues that can be the deciding factors as to which party will grab the seat. The first is that the NPP can retain the seat if they form a strategic alliance with the PNC and other parties in the constituency. The second factor will be that the NDC can win back the seat convincingly if their candidate is popular and appeals to the electorate.
The third factor is that the PNC's chance is premised on the fact that its candidate has been in the race before and he is well-known. However, pundits believe the PNC may not win the by-election but may have a significant say in who wins it. The PPP would need to work hardest to "kill the three political giants, namely NDC, NPP and PNC" in the Talensi by-election.
Figures made available by the Upper East Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) showed that in 2008, the PNC had 4,394 votes, representing 20.4 per cent of the valid votes cast in the Talensi parliamentary election, while the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) got 148 votes, constituting 0.7 per cent.
The NPP polled 7,496 votes, representing 34.7 per cent, while the NDC got 9,548 votes, constituting 44.2 per cent.
In 2012, the PNC increased its votes to 6,420, representing 23.39 per cent, while the Convention People's Party (CPP) had 278 votes, representing 1.01 per cent and the PPP 253 votes, constituting 0.92 per cent.
Then the NPP polled 11,380 votes, representing 41.46 per cent, while the NDC had 9,119 votes, standing for 33.22 per cent.
Voters register
The PPP is, however, advancing an argument already regarding the voters register that will be used for the by-election. The party has called on the Electoral Commission to declare the Talensi Constituency voters register to political parties before the by-election.
A statement signed by the Regional Organiser of the party, Mr Raphael Kpinn, stated, "We are all aware that the Talensi Constituency had about 28,000 plus voters on the 2012 voters register. But about a month ago, the EC carried out a registration exercise at all its district offices across the country but later suspended it.”
The statement wanted the EC to clarify issues regarding the number of eligible voters that were registered at the Tongo District Office of the EC.
It further asked the EC to provide the number of registered eligible voters, if any, during the continuous registration exercise at the district offices and asked whether that had been added to the 2012 voters register.
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"As a country, we have experienced dissatisfaction with elections and concerns have always been raised about the voters register. This should not happen in the upcoming Talensi by-election," the statement further observed.
Background
Last week, the Electoral Commission set July 7, 2015 for a by-election in the Talensi Constituency following a declaration by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, that the seat was vacant. The by-election has become necessary following the enskinment and subsequent resignation of the Member of Parliament for Talensi, Mr Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore, who has been installed as the Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area.