Kumbungu by-election moving on steadily

Voting at polling stations in the Kumbungu by-elections is moving on steadily in an atmosphere of peace.

Even though voting materials arrived late at some polling stations after 8am, the people are cooperating with the election officials.
 
At some of the polling stations some voters were turned away because the verification machines could not recognise their finger prints.

“Unfortunately it did not recognise mine too but I would surely come back in the evening to try again,” Muhamadu Issah told Graphic Online at the D.A. Primary polling station.
 
There is also heavy presence of both Military and Police personnel who are ensuring that the election is successful.
 
Turn-out at some of the polling stations was however low as the usually long winding queues during general elections were absent.

Some residents attributed the situation to voter apathy while others claimed that the absence of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the election was also the reason for the lack of excitement and anxiety among the electorate.
 
For instance at the D. A. Primary School Polling station at Kasalgu, out of the 356 names of electorates on the register, only 84 had cast their votes as od 10;30 am while at the L/A Primary School One only 143 voters out of the 833 electorates had voted.

And at the Dispensary polling station with a voter population of 823, 284 people had also cast their ballot at around the same time.
 
The Northern Regional Police PRO, Ebenezer Tetteh indicated that so far the exercise has been calm and that there was no breach of the security in the area.

In all, a total number of 39,478 people are supposed to cast their ballots at the 74 polling stations in the constituency when voting ends at 5pm.
 
The three candidates vying for the vacant seat are the 55-year old Alhaji Imoro Yakubu Kakpagu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a 61-year old building technician, Amadu Moses Yahaya of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP) Ahmed Mansuru Mohammed, 29.
 
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not contesting the election.

According to the party, it was only being consistent with its decision not to participate in any bye-elections whilst the 2012 Presidential dispute case was still pending at the Supreme Court.
 
The seat became vacant after it had been abdicated by the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, following his appointment as the Secretary-General of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP).

Story: Zakaria Alhassan


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