NDC Holds Successful primaries(22nd January 2012 12:46:59 by Benjamin Xornam Glover)

In the Upper East Region, two incumbent members of parliament came out of the primaries seriously bruised.

They are the sitting MP for Pusiga, Mr. Simon Atingban Akunye who was defeated by Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, the only female aspirant out of the 31 aspirants who contested in the nine constituencies.

Hajia Ayamba, a Deputy National Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, polled 89 votes to ward off the challenge from three other male contenders, namely Messrs Aboko Akudugu, George Bambill Azungah and Simon Akunye who polled 81, 47 and 38 votes respectively.

The other sitting MP who suffered defeat was Mr. Timothy Ataboadey Awontirum who polled 74 as against the winner, Lawyer James Agalga, who garnered 123 votes in the Builsa North Constituency poll.

Messrs George Abavelim, the Presiding Member of the Builsa District Assembly, Philip A. Azaikoba and Seth Alafa who also contested the Builsa North seat obtained 42, 22 and six votes in that order.

Two aspirants were acclaimed. They are Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka, the Majority leader and MP for Zebilla Constituency while Mr. Roger Abolumbisa, a former MP was retained unopposed for the Builsa South constituency.

In the Bongo constituency, the man whose name rhymes with that of the constituency, Mr. Albert Abongo thrashed the Regional Secretary of the party, Donatus Akamugri. Abongo polled 132 votes as against 70 won by Akamugir. The other two contenders in the race for the Bongo seat were Mr Charles Adongo Bawa-Duah who polled 30, and Ministry of Energy spokesperson, Edward Abambire Bawa who had 115 votes.

In the Talensi constituency, five term MP and Minister of Information, John Tia Akologu secured the nod to pursue a sixth term parliamentary slot when he defeated four other contenders by polling 186 votes. The other contenders comprising Messrs Benson Baba Tongo, a former President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Edward Adimazoya Akolgo, Simon Nabia and Peter Tobil Kapeog had 89, 21, five and four votes respectively.

In the next door Nabdam Constituency, Moses Asaga sailed smoothly to shore when he polled 121 as against 37 garnered by his only contender Mr. Sebig Martin Dittoh.

In the Bolgatanga constituency, the sitting MP Emmanuel Akolbire Opam-Brown dismissed his challenger, Mr. Mathew Akayigre Adombire. Mr. Opam-Brown polled 398 votes while his contender had 103.

The MP for Garu Tempane, Dominic Azimbe Azumah retained his seat when he polled 195 votes. Six other contenders, Essagol Joseph Lama, Akuka Alazuuga, John Akudugu Simon Asore, Daniel Asigri Zayeya and Alhaji Ayass Awelisa polled 92, 52, 17, seven three and one vote respectively.