By Michael Oberteye:
Tension is still very high in Asesewa in the Upper Manya Krobo district of the Eastern region, following what Bismark Tetteh Nyarko and his followers claim to be a raw deal given them during last Saturday’s National Democratic Congress’ nationwide polls to select parliamentary representatives who would contest on the ticket of the ruling party in the 2016 parliamentary polls.
In an interview with Mr. Nyarko, he told ritefmonline that the Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Jeff Tetteh Kavienu who was declared the victor cannot claim to have won the elections which he (Bismark) claimed were fraudulent.
Rite FM’s David Ayertey reporting from Asesewa told Rite news that supporters of the defeated parliamentary aspirant had massed up in a protest-like fashion, awaiting clearance from the police to stage a massive demonstration on Friday through the principal streets of Asesewa. He said the agitated youth were disappointed in the district director of elections who did not take control of the declaration of the results.
He said the director who is still nowhere to be seen left the declaration of the results for a different person to declare the following day at the information center.
David Ayertey confirmed that with one polling result to be declared, Mr. Nyarko was in a comfortable lead of a difference of 290 only for the last result to turn the tide. According to him, polling figures from that last figure even if Jeff garnered all would still not be sufficient for him to overtake Bismark. Further, the results were conveyed to the collation center without the company of Bismark Tetteh’s agent, raising further suspicions of somebody tempting with the figures.
The protesters are therefore calling on the Electoral Commission, NDC party executives as well as the president to step in and stop what they call a raw deal.
Bismark Tetteh Nyarko and his followers cited a similar incident that happened in the 2012 primaries which they let go, but not this time.
But responding to the allegations, the MP questioned the basis for this agitation since according to him all party agents as well signed the results as well as each candidate receiving the pink sheets. He said the agents of his opponent should have questioned the results at the polling centers if they had any problems.
He even challenged the legitimacy of his opponent to contest in the Upper Manya Krobo primaries when he hails from Lower Manya Krobo. He advised his opponent not to resort to violent demonstrations to challenge the results but resort to the due process which are the courts.
Source: ritefmonline.org
