The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday held its Super Delegates Conference to select the best five out of 10 aspirants to contest in the flagbearership race come November 4, amidst drama and some surprises.
From Kumasi, Kingsley E. Hope reports that Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has beaten Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen in what was touted as the latter’s own backyard, the Ashanti Region, in the party’s Super Delegates Conference to shortlist flagbearer aspirants.
Dr Bawumia polled 97 votes out of the 121 total valid votes cast with Mr Kyerematen polling 10 votes only.
Mr Kennedy Agyapong came third in the region with six votes, with the former Agriculture Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto also polling five.
The rest of the contenders did not garner any votes.
However, there was one rejected ballot of the Ashanti Regional youth organiser, Raphael Sarfo Patrick, who displayed his ballot after voting.
It followed the party leadership’s warning against displaying ballots after voting.
The five aspirants who secured the highest number of votes would go on to contest the primaries, where they would compete to become the NPP’s flagbearer for the 2024 general election.
From the Western Regional capital, Takoradi, Clement Adzei Boye reports that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia polled 31 votes out of the 45 valid votes cast at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) Great Hall in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.
Ken Ohene Agyapong had three votes, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, seven, Joe Ghartey, one, Kwadwo Poku, zero, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, three, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong zero, Francis Addai-Nimoh, zero, Kofi Konadu Apraku, zero and Boakye Agyarko zero.
From the Bono Region, Daniel Dzirasah reports from the Pastoral Centre, Sunyani that Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia polled 28 votes out of the 38 votes cast while Kennedy Agyapong had 5 votes, Alan Kyerematen and Dr Akoto Afriyie had 2 votes respectively.
The Regional Executives, six members of Parliament and National Council members as well as the Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, took part in the exercise.
Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman reports from Koforidua that the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, emerged winner with 59 votes, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong had 8, Alan John Kyerematen, 7, Boakye Agyarko, 4, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, 1, and Francis Addai-Nimoh, 1.
The rest, Joe Ghartey, Kwadwo Poku, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, and Kofi Konadu Apraku had zero out of the 80 total valid votes cast.
Rejected valid votes was 0 and total votes in the box was 80.
In all, 81 delegates, made up of 17 regional executives, two founding members, three National Council members, one Regional Minister, 26 Members of Parliament and 33 Constituency Regional Executives were supposed to vote in the elections in the Eastern Region which started at about 9am at the Koforidua Secondary Technical Senior High School.
Samuel Agbewode reports from the Oti Regional capital, Dambai, that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, won the Regional Super Delegates Conference election with 16 votes out of the total of votes cast representing 68 per cent.
The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong got five votes and a former Trade and Industry Minister, Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen had six votes.
A former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto got two votes and Mr Kwadwo Poku had one vote.
The rest of the five aspirants namely, the former Minister for Railways, Mr Joe Ghartey, Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and Mr Boakye Agyako all got zero.
The voting started peacefully at exactly 9:00 am until a misunderstanding between the Oti Regional Minister, Dr Joseph Makubu and a former District Chief Executive for Jasikan, Mr Solomon Donkor but that did not affect the election because the police were on top of their work.
The Oti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Nuhu Mahama, supervised and declared the result.
BY TIMES REPORTERS