[ 2014-10-20 ]

NPP cries over high rejected ballots
Northern regional executives of the opposition New
Patriotic Party (NPP) have expressed worry at the
high number of rejected ballots recorded at
Saturday’s polls to elect its flagbearer for the
2016 general elections.

Though voting went on peacefully in the region as
planned, the executives are disturbed that most of
its polling station executives had difficulty in
voting properly, stressing that the situation
requires urgent attention.

About 314 ballots, representing 2.5% of the total
votes cast at 31 polling stations in the region,
were rejected for various reasons during counting
at the close of polls.

In all, over 1000 ballots were declared invalid.
This figure outnumbered the total votes received
by Francis Addai-Nimoh who had less than one
percent of the votes.

The figure, according to the Northern regional
Secretary of the party, Sule Salifu, is
frightening considering the fact that these voters
themselves are supposed to garner support for the
party at the grassroots. most of the rejected
ballots had thumbprints on the party’s emblem
instead whilst others had delegates voting for
more than one candidate.

The NPP scribe stated that the situation is
worrying and indicated that voter education needs
to be intensified in the region in order to cut
down the number of rejected ballots in the
forthcoming general elections.

“We cannot afford to throw votes away in 2016.
We need power and every vote must count,” he
said. Mr Sule reiterated the fact that elections
are won and lost at polling stations, adding that
there is the need for serious work to be done at
the grassroots to stem this since it can cost the
party dearly.

Whilst optimistic the NPP is poised to snatch
power from the NDC, he observed that such
challenges could rob the party of electoral
victory, noting that it was a contributory factor
to the party’s poor performance in some
communities in the region in the 2012 elections.

“We are tackling this issue head-on and I can
assure you that our polling station executives
will be schooled on voting to avert these
mishaps,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, two-time flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo beat his other two contenders by an
overwhelming majority, after securing 11,848 votes
representing 94.07%. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen
polled 346 votes, representing 2.7%, out of the
total votes of 12,594 whilst Addai-Nimoh came last
with 86 votes, representing 0.68%.

According to the regional secretariat of the NPP,
13,160 persons were supposed to take part in the
process but about 500 polling station executives
failed to turn up for reasons yet to be uncovered
by the party.

Voting however went on smoothly as expected,
except in Wulensi where
200 persons’ names went missing in the album.

Fortunately, alternative arrangements were made to
enable them vote.

Similar incidents were witnessed in the Salaga
South and Tamale South constituencies but regional
executives rose to the occasion and resolved the
situations for voting to continue.

Meanwhile 2012 running mate to the NPP flagbearer,
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, voted in Walewale, his
hometown, where Nana Addo performed creditably at
the close of polls.

Dr Bawumia, who was very instrumental in the NPP
winning the Walewale
seat for the first time, is poised to ensure that
he saves the seat for the party in 2016.

Source - Daily Guide

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