NDC Drops Nii Lantey Vanderpauye

The Odododiodo Constituency of the National Democratic Congress has replaced Nii Lantey Vanderpauye as its parliamentary candidate for the December parliamentary polls.

The party decided to hold fresh elections in the area following the trail of Mr. Vanderpauye in an Accra circuit court on charges of electoral fraud.

That case is yet to be determined but party officials say although they believe Mr. Vanderpauye is innocent of the charges levelled against him, they would not want to take chances.

Nominations for parliamentary candidates wishing to contest the December Polls would be opened on Wednesday and Thursday but a final date is yet to be set for ruling on Mr. Vanderpauye?s case.

Mr. Vanderpauye also agreed to step down to allow fresh elections in the area.

A retired civil servant, Samuel Nii Ayikwei Mankatah, has subsequently been elected as the candidate to run on the NDC?s ticket at a primary held yesterday.

Mr. Mankatah polled 151 votes to beat his challenger Mr George Fixon-Owoo who had 102.

Personnel of the electoral commission and the NDC?s Greater Accra regional Chairman, Joshua Alabi, supervised the elections.

Mr. Alabi commended the members of the party and the delegates in the area as well as Nii Lantey Vanderpauye for accepting to hold fresh primaries in the area. He said they did not want a walk over the party in the area.

Meanwhile the fate of the NDC?s parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso Central Constituency would be decided today at an Accra circuit court where he is also standing trial for electoral fraud.