UE: NDC Primaries, two incumbent MP lose seat(Saturday, January 21, 2012 )

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Two incumbent members of parliament in the Upper East Region came out of the weekend primaries of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) seriously bruised when they were defeated the polls. The sitting MP for Pusiga, Mr. Simon Atingban Akunye was overpowered by Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, the only female aspirant out of the 31 aspirants that filed to contest in the nine constituencies in the region. Hajia Ayamba, a Deputy National Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, polled 89 votes to wade 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 polls. 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 6 votes in that order. Two aspirants were acclaimed. They are Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka, the Majority leader for the 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 the name of the constituency, Mr. Albert Abongo thrashed the Regional Secretary of the party, Donatus Akamugri. Abongo polled 132 votes as against 70 secured by Akamugir. The other two contenders in the race for the Bongo seat were Lawyer Charles Adongo Bawa-Duah who polled 30, and Ministry of Energy spokesperson, Edward Abambire Bawa who had 115 votes. In the Talensi constituency, five terms 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, 5 and 4 votes respectively. In next door Nabdam Constituency, Mr. 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, 7, 3 and 1 votes respectively. -END-