Story: Vincent Amenuvene & Salifu M. Nurudeen, Tamale
ALL is set for the Chereponi by-election tomorrow and the five political parties contesting have all stepped up efforts to win the vacant seat. Two female candidates are in the race for the seat.
The parties are the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the People’s National Convention (PNC), The Democratic People’s Party and the New Vision Party (NVP).
The by-election became necessary following the death of the NPP Member of Parliament for the area, Ms Doris Seidu, last month.
Mr Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, 36, a teacher by profession, is contesting on the ticket of the NDC, Abukari Aminu Gariba, 36, also a teacher, is for the NPP, while Mr Issah Yaw, a farmer, is the candidate of the NVP. The two female candidates are Rebecca Namana Jabali, 47, who is contesting for the PNC and Eliasu Fati for the DPP.
Figures show that during the 2004 general election, the late Ms Seidu polled 5,873 votes to unseat her closest rival of the NDC, Mr Seidu Isah Abah, who had 5,561 votes.
In 2008, the late Ms Seidu polled 9,188 votes, representing 52.3 per cent, as against Mr Abah’s 7,648, representing 43.6 per cent. Mrs Jabali Namana of the PNC had 286 votes while her counterpart from the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Mr Michael Kwabena, polled 51 votes.
NPP sources told the Daily Graphic that the party was doing everything possible to retain the seat. So far it is being said that the NDC was using the election to test the ground to see how popular the party is. Indeed, the retention of the seat by the NPP will not be a big deal, but if the NDC wins the seat, it will be a big plus for the
party.
Already tension has been mounting, especially as the two dominant political parties have stepped up efforts to win the seat.
The Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, had to reschedule a visit to the constituency last week, all in the name of peace before, during and after the election.
Latest reports indicate that though security is tight, a number of persons sustained various degrees of cudgel and stone wounds yesterday when supporters of the NDC and the NPP had a confrontation at Chereponi over the holding of rallies by both parties.
The police consequently fired warning shots to disperse the irate youth in the area. The injured persons were said to be receiving treatment at the Chereponi Health Centre. It was, however, not clear how many people sustained the injuries.
According to security operatives in Chereponi, the NDC supporters went to erect canopies to hold a rally, while the NPP supporters were also preparing to hold a rally and the final funeral rights of the late MP for the area, Doris Seidu, at the same venue, thereby resulting in the confrontation.
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Sylvester Kanyi, has told the Daily Graphic that the EC is prepared for the exercise, adding, “materials have arrived in the region for the by-election”.
He said there were 55 polling stations in the constituency but observed with regret that inaccessibility of some polling stations due to floods would be a major challenge facing the EC.
He, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Defence to support the EC by providing helicopters to airlift election materials, officials and security men to and from the area.
He explained that due to flooding of some parts in the district and the poor nature of roads, some areas where polling stations were located had been cut off.
He said in spite of the challenges, turnout was likely to be high due to the intensive public education embarked upon by the EC, the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) and the various political parties that had fielded candidates for the by-election.
There were 23,270 eligible voters during the 2008 general election with an 80-per cent voter turnout.
The Northern Regional Police Command has also met all stakeholders, including the various political parties, with the view to ensuring a peaceful by-election.
According to the Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Angwubutoge Awuni, 1,050 police personnel had been deployed in Chereponi for a peaceful conduct of the polls and to deal decisively with any security challenge that might come up during and after the polls.
He said each of the 55 polling stations would be manned by not less than 10 police personnel.
He explained that the police would erect three checkpoints on the Yendi-Chereponi road.
He said the regional command wanted to avoid a repeat of the turmoil that characterised the parliamentary re-run in the Akwatia Constituency in the Eastern Region.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major-General Peter Augustine Blay, has implored military personnel who have been dispatched to support the enforcement of law and order in Chereponi during the by-election to exhibit the utmost professionalism.
He said already all logistics for the smooth operation of the troops in Chereponi, such as finance, transport and shelter, had been provided and thus, “there is no need why we should fail in Chereponi”.
The CDS gave the advice in Tamale after he led a 15km route march, code-named ‘Exercise Morale’ through the streets of Tamale to boost the morale of the forces.
A platoon each from the Tamale Air Force Station, Airborne Force and 6th Infantry Battalion took part in the route march, led by their commanding officers, Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) and other officers.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sampson-Oje, the Forces Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer Adu Yaw and some directors from the headquarters also joined the exercise.
The march brought to an end the four-day visit of the CDS to the Northern sector, which took him to Tamale, Bawku and Yendi.
Major-General Blay noted that the Chereponi by-election was another challenging exercise that needed to be tackled with all seriousness.
He assured the troops of the government’s continued support to ensure their welfare and the smooth operation of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Commanding Officer of the 6th Garrison, Group Captain Ayisa, pledged the commitment of the forces under his command and assured the CDS of the readiness of the forces to ensure a successful election in Chereponi.
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