With just a few days to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Primaries in the Northern region this Saturday, there are reports of vote buying in some prominent constituencies within the region.
According to reports received by Daily Guide, delegates are being induced with cash ranging from GH100 to GH500 to vote in favour of certain aspirants. The papers investigations have revealed that in extreme cases, motorbikes and tractors are allegedly given out as bribe.
Some NDC delegates have stated that this is their harvesting season and are taking advantage of the situation to get rich.
In constituencies where it is feared that incumbent MPs have slim chances of retaining their seats, huge amounts of cash is said to be the order of the day. A number of MPs are likely to face the wrath of constituents over accusations of non-performance.
The focus of this Saturdays primaries, according to many political watchers, would be on Tamale Central, Tamale North, Yapei-Kusawgu, Walewale, Mion, Kumbungu, Yendi and Salaga. Candidates in these areas have been tipped to run a close race for the partys slot.
Meanwhile, three out of 75 candidates have been disqualified from contesting the primaries at their various constituencies. They are Prince Ibrahim Tanko Mion constituency; Iddrisu Ibrahim Yapei-Kusawgu constituency and Jabon Thomas Lomnan Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo constituency.
According to officials of the vetting committee, Prince Ibrahim Tanko had conflicting information on his curriculum vitae, as well as other discrepancies. According to them, the committee could not authenticate the claim that the aspirant had a masters degree as contained in his CV.
Iddrisu Ibrahim failed to get all 119 polling station officials to endorse his forms as required, hence his disqualification. He managed to attain 104 signatures.
Jabon Thomas Lomnan was disqualified on the basis that since he went independent in 2008, he could not be allowed to contest on the partys ticket.
According to the partys constitution, he was expected to officially write to the partys hierarchy at the constituency to inform them of his intention to rejoin the party as all candidates who went independent were sacked from the party.
But beleaguered Parliamentary aspirant of the Mion constituency, Prince Ibrahim Tanko, has accused members of the vetting committee of the NDC of being Abudus.
According to him, because he was a Prince and an astute Andani, they were bent on disqualifying him from running the race as a result of their alliance with the Abudu Family.
Reacting to reports of his disqualification, Prince Ibrahim further claimed that his alliance with former President Jerry John Rawlings was among reasons why members of the vetting committee victimized him.
He told Daily Guide that the former president was among his list of referees in the documents he presented to the vetting panel, noting that, that accounted for his current predicament.
Source: Stephen Zoure, Tamale
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