Nima Confusion: Irate youth were scared I may snatch Ayawaso East seat – Baba Jamal

Baba Jamal, the immediate-past NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia in the Eastern Region says the pandemonium that characterised the just ended constituency elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ayawaso East Constituency of the Greater Accra Region was as a result of locals panicking over his supposed decision to contest in the Ayawaso East parliamentary primary.

He indicated that locals suspect his appearance was grounds-testing exploits for him to snatch the seat from the incumbent having realised his weight as a politician within the main opposition NDC but said he’s no intention for now contesting the seat as being rumoured by some NDC supporters.

Baba Jamal was blocked from casting his vote as a government appointee during the just ended constituency elections of the NDC when some irate youth stormed the election grounds and prevented him[Baba Jamal] from entering the conference [Nima Cluster of Schools, near the Nima Police Station ]to cast his vote.

All efforts to convince the youth and Election Committee to allow Baba Jamal to cast his vote fell on death-ears. They’d contended that if Baba Jamal is allowed to vote, he will gain roots in the area and ostensibly force himself on the people as their Parliamentary Candidate.

In a reaction to the fall out from the confusion staged by the youth at the constituency, on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM Tuesday, Baba Jamal reiterated he escaped unhurt because he’d decided not to touch down at all in view of the rumpus. He claimed he remained in his car amidst the disorder and decided to finally leave when the tension thickened.

“The decision I took was the best because by now we would have heard a different story altogether. There might have been some casualties to the confusion if I had insisted on still voting. I told them, look if this thing will create problem then let's go back and I withdrew. And that doesn’t mean I’m not a registered member there. In the process of the voting my name was mentioned three times, but if because of me there’ll be problems, I decided that let me withdraw. That’s what happened and nothing else,” he explained in an interview with host Kwaku Owusu Adjei on the Morning Show on Kasapa 102.5 FM.

Political watchers say Baba Jamal wants to take cover at the Ayawaso East constituency following his increased presence at social functions such as naming ceremonies, weddings and Islamic funerals – called Aduwa in Hausa.

Having lost to a lady he described as a mere hairdresser in the last polls, Baba Jamal would be facing an uphill task winning the Akwatia seat in future electoral duels, hence the suspicion that he’s seeking to pitch camp in the constituency to activate his chances in future polls.