Chereponi Bye-election: Police grabbed two ballot
box snatchers, but voting is
underway
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Sept 29, Ghanadot - Reports from Chereponi say Police in area early on Tuesday
spoiled a frantic attempt by a popular and notorious NDC
supporter in the Northern Region, simply known as Azorka,
from entering the election town.
Azorka is said to have attempted entering Chereponi with a
group of young men from Tamale who he presented as National
Democratic Congress polling agents, but the names of the
young men were not in the list of polling agents presented
to the police.
The young men have reportedly pitched camp at a spot a few
metres away from the Chereponi border while Azorka is said
to have managed to enter the town. But this was after he had
engaged the police in a heated debate.
The Northern Regional Police Commander ACP Angwubutoge Awuni,
who confirmed this correspondent, said the police have also
arrested two persons who attempted to destroy ballot papers
in Chereponi.
The people of Chereponi are voting to elect a Member of
Parliament (MP) to replace former MP, Doris Seidu, who
passed away in July, this year after a short illness.
ACP Awuni said the two men – whose names were given as
Alhassan Yakubu and Abdulai – are currently in the custody
of the Yendi police.
Describing security in the town as “tight,” ACP Awuni said
his men would deal with anyone who attempts to foment
trouble.
“We are not going to allow anyone who has nothing to do with
the electoral process in this Chereponi to infiltrate the
polling stations,” ACP Awuni hinted.
There were earlier reports of clashes between sympathisers
of the NDC and the NPP.
The parliamentary election is being contested by candidates
from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic
Party (NPP), People’s National Convention (PNC), New Vision
Party (NVP) and the Democratic People's Party (DPP).
The town has a voter population of about 26,000 and election
watchers say the seat is either going to be won by the NDC
or the NPP.
Ghanadot
