Curfew draws back filing of NDC nominations in Bimbila, Bunkprugu

Northern Regional leadership of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday directed constituency executives in the Bimbila and the Bunkprugu constituencies to close early filing of Parliamentary nominations. The directive aimed at avoiding violation of the curfew hours imposed on the two hot spots in the region. The curfew in Bimbila is from 4pm to 6am and residents there are compelled to be law abiding. The state of emergency has also restricted the movement of residents of troubled Bunkprugu.
The NDC Northern Regional Secretary, Lawyer Abdul Rauf Khalid in a news interview said the processes of picking and filing of nominations were smooth. He admonished the Parliamentary aspirants and their followers to consider the contest as a family affair. “My advice to the aspirants and our supporters is that we are one family and they should ensure that the whole process is peaceful.” He also cautioned party executives at all levels to desist from openly campaigning for their preferred candidates. Lawyer Rauf warned that any party executive found flouting the party’s constitution will be sanctioned. “Constituency, regional and national executives should stay away from the aspirants: I say this because we can only have formidable and united candidates if after the Parliamentary primaries we don’t have situations where some of the aspirants will feel that they did not have a leveled playing ground.”
Lawyer Rauf lauded the expansion of the party’s Electoral College. “It is in the interest of the party that the Electoral College has been expanded such that a whole lot of party members will be given an opportunity to choose who should be their Parliamentary candidates.” It has been gathered that over 200 aspirants picked nomination forms to contest the Parliamentary primaries in 31 constituencies. Bimbila and Bunkprugu constituencies recorded 10 aspirants each. Tamale north recorded seven, Tamale central four, Savelugu five, Walewale four, Karaga six, Mion seven, Saboba two, Tatale three, Nantong two and Zabzugu two.
Five District Chief Executives including Alhassan Fuseini of Gushiegu, Jaspa Moye of Kpandai and the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba DCE, Issac Dramani are in the race. The incumbent Member of Parliament for Wulensi constituency in the Nanumba South district, Maban George Laliri is the only person going unopposed. The Tamale South Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu’s challenger, Mohammed Ali alias one man hinted of filing his nominations. Inusah Fuseini’s main challenger, Engineer Ibrahim Seidu filed his nominations and called for fairness. He stressed the need for decent campaigns and urged his teeming supporters to refrain from acts of lawlessness. “Let us embark on a clean campaign devoid of acrimony, intimidation and revenge.” Engineer Ibrahim Seidu posited that retaining the incumbent MP, Inusah Fuseini as the Parliamentary candidate will be suicidal. “Tamale central constituency is yearning for a change: your minds have been made up for the change and the change will be done by all of us but if you make a mistake and bring back the old flock the great NDC party in the Tamale central constituency will be moving in the wrong direction.”
Another aspirant in the Tamale central constituency, a banker called Adam Alhassan alias Manpower claimed Inusah Fuseini was outmoded. He emphasized that the party should remain united after the contest for a resounding victory in 2016. He explained the rationale for joining the race. “I believe in service to humanity and I am presenting myself to the constituents of Tamale central as an option to be considered.” “I have been accessible to the constituents and I am a grassroots person who started politics since the days of our secondary school days and I believe the good people of Tamale central will give me the mandate to represent the constituency in Parliament.” Adam Alhassan promised to increase the party’s winning margin both for Presidential and Parliamentary in 2016. “We want to create a platform to increase the winning margin in Tamale central as well as President Mahama so that we can win massively in 2016.” Alhassan Suhuyini of Radio Gold and Mohammed Abdul Salam have submitted their nominations in the Tamale north constituency.