NDC primary blues in U/E: Avoka returns while Amenga-Etego exits

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary held in the Upper East Region on Saturday produced two new entrants, and showed the exit for one incumbent Member of Parliament for the Chiana-Paga Constituency in the person of Mr Rudolf Amenga-Etego.

The primary also created an opportunity for one of the long-serving MPs, Mr Cletus Avoka, to stage a strong comeback to contest the 2020 parliamentary election for the Zebilla Constituency.

Track records

While the two new entrants, a former Kassena Nankana West District Chief Executive (DCE) between 2009 and 2013, Mr Thomas Addah Dalu, kicked out Mr Amenga-Etego in the Chiana-Paga Constituency, Mr Sampson Tangombu Chiragia, a former Regional Youth Organiser for the NDC, was also given the nod to contest the Navrongo Central seat.
Currently, the Navrongo Central seat is being held by the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Joseph Kofi Adda.

The contest for the Builsa South and Bawku Central went unopposed with the remaining 13 constituencies being competed for.

Retained MPs

The winning MPs include, Mr Isaac Adongo, Bolgatanga Central; Dr Dominic Ayine, Bolgatanga East; Mr Benson Tongo Baba,Talensi; Mr James Agalga, Builsa North and Mr Edward Bawa, Bongo.

The rest include Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, Nabdam; Mr Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, Garu; Dr Robert Kuganab-Lem, Binduri and Madam Laadi Ayi Ayamba, Pusiga.

The others are Mr Dominic Azimbe, long-serving MP for Garu and David Adakudugu, another long-serving MP for Tempane.

Losers and winners

When contacted, one of the losers in the primary, Mr Amenga-Etego told the Daily Graphic on Sunday that “I do not want to comment on this primary”.

One of the winners and sitting MP for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Adongo, indicated that before the elections there was “a lot of anxiety among my colleague MPs in the NDC that I may not come back while for the NPP they wished I should be kicked out at the primary and subsequently from Parliament but my people in Bolgatanga Central have shown the NPP that they know what is good for them."

Mr Adongo, therefore, told both his enthusiastic supporters and followers of the other candidates who have in the past failed to lead the party in the constituency to unite and bury their differences to ensure a resounding victory in the 2020 general election.

That he said, would enable the NDC to save Ghanaians from what he described as the “reckless collapse of the financial sector by the NPP."
Mr Adongo polled 843 votes to beat Mr George Gamson,a public servant and businessman who got 229 votes.

New entrants

One of the new entrants for the Chiana-Paga Constituency, Mr Dalu, who polled 365 votes to beat the sitting MP, Mr Amenga-Etego, with 272 votes, for his part observed that throughout his campaign he had been talking about the need for unity in the party.

He further explained that he would try his best to reach out to all the members of the party in the constituency, including the losing candidate, to put the party on a sound footing before the 2020 general election.

Issues

The NDC Regional Director of Elections, Mr Donatus Nyaaba, intimated that although there were a few issues regarding the elections they did not mar the process.

According to him, the issue regarding the youth agitation over an attempt by the constituency chairman of the party, Mr George Ayanure, to canvass for votes for one of the contestants in the race would be looked into and differences ironed out before the 2020 elections.

In all, 11,561 delegates voted in the party's parliamentary primaries in the 13 constituencies, with 45 candidates contesting for the various slots.