Supporters of Wayo not happy with his stance

Supporters of Mr. Kofi Wayo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East constituency have called for a re-collation of electoral results for the constituency, saying "there was an error in the collation of results".

Mr Wayo has, however, accepted the results for the sake of convenience, saying: "I wanted the seat to help my people but if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wants it so badly, I do not have a problem with it. They can have it as I go back to work".

Certified results released by the Electoral Commission from that area indicate that Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, NDC, polled 29,579 votes against 29,026 for Mr. Wayo.

Wayo said in 1996 the NDC won over 42,000 votes in that constituency, adding that this year's results indicated that the people are fed up with the party.

"For me it is a moral victory to have won almost the same number of votes as the NDC candidate after just six months of campaign against the NDC's four years of campaign," he said.

"I am not going to get into any squabbles with the NDC over the results although I was initially informed by Mr. Marshall Lutherodt, a presiding officer in one of the polling stations, that I won by 947 votes," Mr Wayo said.

Asked whether he had conceded defeat, he said: "No, I have not conceded anything because there is nothing to concede. But if they insist that they have won, I do not want a conflict, it's not worth dying for - we are all brothers".

"Though I understand the sentiments of my supporters, I believe the law must take its course because the law is what differentiates human beings from animals."

Mr Wayo said electoral officials at the Nima Police Station where the figures were collated believed that the figures were manipulated and therefore they were going to re-tabulate it.

"But if it does not work out for me that way, I have no problem; I will get back to work. But the NDC must know that I am still around and they should watch out for me in the next elections."

Mr Wayo, a multimillionaire business tycoon, promised to still work for 90 per cent of the people in the area who are living in abject poverty.

"I have learnt a lot about the people in my area within the last six months and I intend to work for them so the NDC must watch out," he said.

Explaining what he alleged to be an underhand deal, Mr Wayo said after the collation of results at about 2000 hours on Thursday, he was informed of his 947 lead over the NDC candidate until another ballot box was brought in from Kotoka International School polling station.

"That last ballot box was brought in the company of Mr. Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the NDC, and Alhaji Sinare, a leading member of the NDC, to the collation centre without a security officer," he said.

He said when results from that station were added to the others, the NDC candidate was declared the winner.

"My agents at the collation centre challenged the results as the NDC candidate had additional 297 against my 270 votes, supposed to have reduced my lead only by 27 votes to 920."

At the EC office, Mr. Aminu Shittu, District Electoral Officer for Ayawaso East, said the results were fairly collated in the presence of three NPP agents and one NDC agent, all of whom accepted the final results."

He said the disputed ballot box was brought to the collation centre in the company of three security personnel, adding that whoever told Mr Wayo that he won by 920 votes deceived him as the collation of results was not complete at the time.

"On realising their defeat, the three NPP agents, in the persons of one Mr. Mustapha and Mr. Sistu and another gentleman, refused to sign, but that did not prevent us from declaring the results because all their agents at the polling stations had endorsed the results already," he said.

Mr. Aminu said there was not going to any recount, adding: "the NDC candidate won and Wayo himself has no problem with the results".

Meanwhile, supporters of Mr Wayo have besieged the Nima Police station seeking a re-collation of results whilst the ballots are at the EC district office.

The supporters vigorously urged him not to give up but to fight for the seat, which they claim he won by a margin of 920 votes.

Dr. Mustapha stated: "my victory is genuine and I am grateful to the people for electing me to represent them in parliament for the next four years".