Will Upper East Vote Skirt and Blouse in elections 2012?

Article: Benjamin Xornam Glover An estimated 566, 859 eligible voters are expected to turn up and vote in 1,141 polling stations across the Upper East Region on Friday, December 7, 2012 as the nation goes to the polls. So far 63 candidates including 6 women have filed nominations to contest in the 15 constituencies available in the region. As usual both the NDC and the main opposition party, NPP have filed to contest in all the constituencies. The 15 constituencies are, Bolgatanga Central, Bolgatanga East, Bawku Central, Binduri, Bongo, Builsa North ,Builsa South, Chiana/Paga, Garu, Nabdam, Navrongo Central, Pusiga Talensi, Tempane, and Zebilla. Smaller parties such as the PNC AND PPP have 11 and 10 candidates each while good old CPP made a showing in seven constituencies with new entrant, the National Democratic Party, (NDP), filing candidates in three constituencies. There are two candidates filed as independent candidates. Ahead of the D-day, the question on the lips of many is if the NDC will maintain its dominance in the region or the electorates should expect a political tsunami by any of the other parties in the race. Fact is, since 1992, the region has been associated with the NDC with the party recording land slide victories at both Presidential and Parliamentary levels. From 1992 to 2008, the NDC has always gone past the 50 per cent mark at the presidential elections. From all indications, the trend is not likely to change although the NPP is hoping to make gains in this election. The trend since 1992 has been that a the NDC has been securing over50 per cent of votes cast at the presidential level and indications are that it is not changing in this elections. The rear challenge will however be if the NDC can dominate in the parliamentary level. This is because information picked from the campaign activities has it that the electorates desire a change of faces. At the presidential level, in the 1992 polls,the NDC secured 54.0 per cent, NPP had 10. 5 percent , PNC 32.5 per cent, NIP 1.4 per cent and PHP 1.7 per cent. in 1996, NDC polled 69.0 per cent, the NPP had 17.4 per cent. The PNC is that elections secured 13. 7 per cent. In the 2000 elections, the two leading parties, NDC and NPP secured 57.17 per cent and 42. 83 per cent respectively. In 2004, the results were as follows, NDC, 53.9 per cent, NPP 31.6 per cent , PNC 12.6 per cent and CPP 1.7 per cent. From the trend the smaller parties have not fared well at the presidential level but some like the PNC have made good showing at the parliamentary resulting in them winning some seats in the past,like the Bolgatanga central, and Builsa South constituency. While the NDC is hopeful to repeat that trend and even enhance their performance at the presidential level for the 2012 elections they are cautiously optimistic following threats by some electorates to vote against some of the parliamentary candidates for unsatisfactory performance. Murmurs picked from the campaign rounds have it that the electorate intend to adopt the “skirt and blouse” voting system. That is, vote for NDC’s John Mahama and a vote against some of the NDC candidates. The reason given by these voters are that some of the MPs have overstayed their welcome and as such must make way for new faces. As to whether these silent cries represent the views of the majority of voters will only be known after the official results are declared by the E.C. In terms of parliamentary elections, the NDC in 1996 swept all 12 seats. The next election year of 2000 saw the party losing in three constituencies, namely Bawku Central, Garu-Tempane and Navrongo Central. In the 2004 elections after the number of seats was increased to 13, the NDC won nine seats while the NPP won two seats(Navrongo Central and Builsa North) with the PNC settling for the other two seats(Zebilla and Bolgatanga Central). In 2008 elections, the NDC won eight seats, the NPP won four (Navrongo Central, Binduri, Bawku Central and Chiana Paga) and PNC 1(Builsa South) . While the NDC believes it undoubtedly remains the strongest party in the Upper East, the NPP believes it has made a lot of inroads and considering the fact that many of the electorate have expressed the desire to have new faces represent the region in parliament the opposition party is so confident of causing a political tsunami. As stated earlier, there are 15 constituencies in the Upper East Region and starting from the Bolgatanga Central constituency, the battle is between is clearly between the incumbent, Mr. Emmanuel Opam-Brown Akolbire and the NPP’s Dr. Gyesika A. Agambilla. Others in the race are PPP’s Robert Anamolga and the NDPs’ Saeed Jafar Mohammed, the youngest among the lot. The NDC won the seat in 1992 and 1996. In 2000 and 2004, PNC toppled the NDC but lost it again to the NDC in 2008. Now that it has been split into two Bolgatanga Central and Bolgatanga East, the question is can the NPP annexed the seat for the first time? The race for the Navrongo Central Constituency will witness a three-man race with the aspirants being, the current Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo for the NDC, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda on the ticket of the NPP and Mr. Crispin Avanakwa Awupuri, a 40 year old teacher who is contesting on the ticket of the PPP. In the last parliamentary elections, Messrs Woyongo and Adda together with PNCs Gabriel Pwamang and CPPs, Fotunate Anuga were entangled in the race for the seat. At the end of that contest, Mr. Kofi Adda polled 14, 354 representing 45.23 percent of votes cast as against, Mr. Woyongo’s 13, 224 represent 41. 67 per cent. The two gentlemen are in the race again and what makes it interesting is that the PNC which is not presenting a candidate for this year’s race is reported to have thrown its weight behind Mr. Mark Woyongo. In 2008, the PNC candidate, Mr. Gabriel Pwamang polled 4,026 votes. Assuming all these votes goes to add to that of what Mr. Woyongo obtained in 2008, it will add up to 18, 380. With this one can safely call it for Mr. Woyongo, who doubles as the current Regional Minister. But politics like a game of football is not east to predict. The NPP since the year 2000 have had a grip on the Navrongo constituency. In the 2000 elections, the late John Setuni Achuliwor contested on the NPP’s ticket and defeated the NDCs Clement T. Bugase by 143 votes. Achuliwor polled 11,246 while Bugase had 11,103 votes. The rest was shared between five other candidates who contested in that race. Following the death of John Setuni Achuliwor in 2003, Mr. Adda a MP. He won the by-election for the Navrongo Central constituency. In the 2004 elections, Adda retained his seat after he defeated NDCs Emmanuel Andema, the current Municipal Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nankana East. In that polls, Adda polled 12, 444 votes while Mr. Andema came a distant third with 6,201. Mr. Adda comes into this year’s race with a lot of experience likewise his contender who has also in the past three-and-half years have done so much for the region as a whole and the Kassena-Nankana East DistrictThe race for the Bolgatanga East Constituency is between PNC’s David Apasera, NDC’s Lawyer Dominic Ayine, former charismatic MCE for Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Rockson Bukari who is contesting on the slot of the NPP and PPP Baba Starling. Two times MP, David Apesara comes into this race with a wealth of experience. In 2000 and 2004 he won the then Bolgatanga Central constituency handsomely and wields the ability to annexed the newlty created constituency. NDC’s Lawyer Dominic Ayine is well known for his contribution to the party at the national level but at the local level, he has a lot of convincing to do if he is to secure the seat for his part. Charismatic Rockson Bukari as MCE for Bolgatanga during the Kufour administration worked hard and as to whether this will earn him the votes to become the first MP for the newly created seat will be known after December 7. NDC’s Albert Abongo is synonymous with the Bongo constituency and it is likely he will retain the seat considering the strength and power of his close contender, Madam Diana Abuyiya Asuure of the NPP Internal wrangling in the aftermath of the elections of Madam Asuure to the extent that a section of party faithful held a press conference calling for her removal a few months back means the differences have not been resolved and that gives the NDC near walkover. Also in the race for Bongo are Mr. Jacob Nsoh of the PNC, Peter Ayamga Akugre of the CPP and an independent candidate Mr. Clement Ayorigo. One interesting constituency to watch in the Upper East Region is Bawku Central. Five people are vying for that seat. They are Deputy Education Minister, Mr. Mahama Ayagira, NDC, Former Deputy Managing Director of Metro TV, Alhassan Ayariga, NPP, Businessman Iddrisu Mubarak, PPP, Farmer Joseph Awini Aguuga, PNC, and Teacher, Madam Zaliya Ibrahim the only female candidate in the constituency on the ticket of CPP. The prediction is that NPP’s Alhassan Haruna will retain the seat for the part particularly when he enjoys good support from his kinsmen, the Bissa community though figures from that block is relatively not much. Both leading parties, NDC and NPP have made inroads into each other territory and courting massive support from the electorate. Again the recent court ruling that squashed the claim against the NPP candidate that he is not a Ghanaian appears to have enhanced his popularity and bolstered his chances. In the Binduri Constituency, the race for the seat in between Ben Noah Azure, NDC, Stephen M.D. Yakubu, the incumbent NPP MP, William Ayinga Abanga, PPP and Cyprian Azure Ayendago, PNC. In the year 2000, the NDC polled 12, 174. In 2004 they dropped to 9,797 and in 2008 the NDC lost when they polled 8,357 as against NPP’s 9,103. Having toppled the NDC from that seat, the incumbent, Mr. Stephen Yakubu is determined to retain his seat. For the Pusiga Constituency, the race is between Madam Laadi Ayii Ayamba, NDC, Imoro Sarko, NPP, and William Abako Abosa, PPP. Irrespective of the race coming from the other contenders, the vibrancy of the campaign as waged by Madam Laadi Ayii Ayamba put her in the lead . Five people are vying for the Chiana/Paga seat. Mr. Abuga Pele, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) is seeking to unseat NPP’s Leo Kabah Alowe. Also in the race are Mr. Muniru Aloah Adoa of the PPP, Journalist Francis Niagra Santuah on the ticket of PNC and Desmond Ayirevire for the CPP. Mr. Pele won the seat in 2000 and 2004. In 2000, he won by securing 15, 391 votes while in 2004 he polled 11,824. In 2008, as a result of the emergence of an independent candidate from the NDC stock, Mr. Pele lost the seat when he secured 7, 380 votes as against NPP’s Leo Kabah Alowe who had 8, 323 votes. The race many people are watching keenly is that between, NDC John Tia Akolgu and Robert Nachinab Doaneng of the NPP in the Talensi constituency. Also in the race are Ramson Yinbil Babihitzaaya of the CPP, Dr. Micheal Wombeogo, PNC and Dominic Mogre, PPP.The incumbent, Mr. Tia Akolgu a former Minister for Information has occupied the seat since 1992 and there is a sense among a section of the electorate that he has overstayed his welcome and as such must give way to others, a position those on the NDC side vehemently disagree. Indeed buoyed by this call, the NPP candidate has predicted that there will be a political tsunami and by the close of day, he will be crowned as the new MP for Talensi. In 2000, John Tia Akolgu polled 9,655 as against NPP’s Hajia M.A. Abagna-Kaldi who had 7, 607 votes. In 2004, John Tia won but slumped to 8, 346 votes while the NPP’s Hajia M.A. Abagna-Kaldi secured 5,354. Incidentally, Robert Nachinab Doaneng contested in that elections as an independent candidate and secured 4, 582 votes. In 2008, John Tia pushed up to 9, 548 while the NPP with Sebastian Tibil Bisnab of the NPP gaining 7, 469 votes. PNC, Dr. Micheal Wombeogo who is making a secondly attempt after his failed mission in 2008 is hoping to improved his performance. Incumbent MP for Garu constituency, Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah of the NDC will be contested by former Regional Minister, Alhassan Samari, NPP, Dominic Ligadya Dinko, CPP and Seidu James Achel of the NDP. In the 2008 polls, Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah of the NDC polled 16, 318 votes to defeat former Upper East Regional Minister, Alhassan Samari who had 15, 650 votes. With the constituency now split it will be interesting to see which of them emerge winner in the race. In the newly created Tempane, four contestants are in race for the sole ticket to represent the people in parliament. They are immediate past DCE for Garu-Tempane, David Adakurugu, NDC, Mr. Joseph Akudibillah, NPP, Samson Kangben Laar, PPP and Madam Akugri Laadi for the PNC. In the Nabdam constituency, another veteran parliamentarian, Mr. Moses Asaga of the NDC will be contested once again by former Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Boniface Gambila of the NPP. Others in the race are Gabilemm Ditamina, PPP, David Kurug, PNC and William Atampugre, CPP. Majority Leader in Parliament and NDC MP for the Zebilla Constituency, Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka is likely to have a walk in the park against his contenders Mr. Frank Fuseini Adongo, NPP, Atang Naba, NDP, and an independent candidate, Mallam Ali Yusuf Isa. In the Builsa South constituency, four persons filed to contest the seat. They are Roger Abolimbisa Akantagriwen for the NDC, Paulina Morton-Bruce for the NPP, Alhassan Azong, the incumbent MP, for the PNC and Mr. Daniel Kunde who is contesting on the ticket of the CPP. Three persons are in the race for the Builsa North Constituency. They are NDC’s James Agalga, Mrs. Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, former Deputy Minister and former MP on the ticket of the NPP, and Mr. Francis Agilinko, a 36 year old teacher for the PNC. -End-