A total of 49 out of 50 who filed nominations to contest the forthcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries, have been given approval to contest the polls slated for May 13, 2023.
Of the number, three incumbent aspirants namely Clement Apaak, Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South Constituency, Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central Constituency, and Lydia Kanvariba, MP for Tempane Constituency are unopposed.
Only one candidate, Dr Stanislus Kadingdi, former Municipal Chief Executive for Kassena-Nankana, was however disqualified for failing to pay his filing fees of GH¢ 40,000, Jonathan Salifu, the Upper East Regional Communication Officer of the NDC and a member of the vetting committee, disclosed these to the Ghanaian Times, in Bolgatanga.
He said the aspirants were 47 males and two females with four contesting for Navrongo Central slot were the incumbent MP Samson Chiragia, who indicated that he was never intimidated by the three other contenders who had filed nominations to challenge his parliamentary bid at the primaries and was already marketable, formidable and had the cutting-edge above any other contestants.
However, Pius Avio, a private legal practitioner, Dr Jacob Paarechuga and Simon Aworigo, had all vowed to make the incumbent MP a one-term legislator while in the Nabdam Constituency, the primaries, which promised to be knife-edged contest, would be fought among three contenders namely, Lamtiig Apanga, a private legal practitioner, Dr Mark Nawaane, incumbent MP, and Francis Zuure of the National Health Insurance Authority.
The Ghanaian Times gathered that Dr Nawaane was facing tougher contest ever, as his main challenger, Mr Apanga, draws his strength and support from Zoliba and Sakoti blocks, which have 31 out of a total of 50 polling stations in the constituency.
In the Talensi Constituency, eight aspirants have filed nominations to slug it out in the contest, but a large number of delegates noted the competition is expected to be reduced to a two-horse race between a former District Chief Executive, Edward Awunnore and Peter Yaro, Country Director for Basic Needs, Ghana.
Others also believe a Chartered Accountant, Nathaniel Kugre Daraan and Customs Officer, Daniel Dung, are as equally strong as their competitors and the rest anxiously to grab the slot are Martin Aditiba, Solomon Zinekena, and Dickson Kpelim-Etime while in the Chiana-Paga Constituency, four contestants are vying for the candidacy include the incumbent, Thomas Daloo, who has promised to win the contest because he has never lost touch with his constituents since he was voted as MP for the first time in 2020.
FROM FRANCIS DABRE DABANG, BOLGATANGA
