NDC, NPP set for Talensi by-elections

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the dominant opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are set for the Talensi by-elections slated for July 7, 2015.

Yesterday, the two parties held primaries at Winkogo and Tongo in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region respectively to elect their candidates to contest the election.

The candidates elected are Mr Thomas Duanab Pearson Wuni, a 51-year- old accountant at the Nsawam Government Hospital and a graduate of the GIMPA Law School for the NPP and Mr B.T. Baba, a retired Deputy Director General of the Ghana Prisons Services for the NDC.

The by-election has become necessary following the enskinment and subsequent resignation of the incumbent Member of Parliament for Talensi, Mr Robert Nachinab Doameng Masore, who has been installed as the Paramount chief of the Tongo traditional area.

Contestants

While the NDC had five contestants, three people contested for the NPP primary. Voting which was supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) was held in a peaceful atmosphere by both parties. Security was also provided for both parties to conduct the primaries.

NDC results

Those who contested the primary for the NDC were Mr B.T. Baba, 67, Mr Edward Awunnore, 40, the Talensi District Chief Executive, Mr Charles Boazor, 38, a public servant, Mr Rockson Aditiba, 31, a businessman and King James Atore, 52, a banker. Six hundred and ninety-seven NDC delegates voted for the candidates from 22 electoral areas.

Mr Baba emerged victorious by winning with 351 votes. He was followed by Mr Awunore who got 265 votes, Mr Boazor got 53 votes, Mr Aditiba got three votes while Mr Atore got five votes.

NPP Results

For the NPP primary, the three contestants were Mr Thomas Pearson Wuni, 51, Mr William Zoogah 50, an accountant and Mr Robert Ayinaba Alibo, 42-year-old worker with World Vision Ghana.

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Mr Thomas Duanab Pearson polled 182 votes to emerge the winner
Mr Robert Ayinaba Alibo got 119 votes and Mr William Zoogah, 42-year-old accountant and businessman received 96 votes.
Four hundered and eighteen delegates from 22 electoral areas and 74 polling stations participated in the election.

Stalwarts

Political stalwarts in the region that attended the NDC primaries included the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. James Tiigah,his Deputy, Mr Daniel Syme, former Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Bede Ziedeng, the Deputy NDC National Organiser, Mr Joshua Akamba, some DCEs, NDC regional and constituency executives.

Greed

Addressing the NDC delegates, Mr Akamba observed that the NDC was formed based on certain principles that allowed everybody, no matter his or her political inclination, to join the party.

He observed that "greed"made the party to lose the seat to the NPP saying the Talensi seat belonged to the NDC.
Mr Tiigah, for his part, observed that the NDC was a broad party that should be able to win a lot of voters to its fold stressing that "we are taking the Talensi seat no matter what the other parties do".

He advised losers to not despair but support the party to win both the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2016.
Mr Ziedeng, who is also the Deputy National Director of Elections of the NDC, stated that all the candidates had been made to sign an undertaking to ensure that they did not abandon the party and stood as independent candidates in future elections just because they lost the primary.