NPP expresses concern over interference in electoral matters

Tamale, Dec. 25, GNA - The Northern Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed concern over threats by some youth group calling itself the 93Concerned Youth of Nanum" to remove the Distr= ict Electoral Officer in Bimbilla over claims that the people had lost confidence in him.

The Concerned Youth are also questioning the creation of two new electoral areas in the Chamba area in the district. On the 18th of December this month, the group was alleged to have locked up the offices of the district electoral office and chased out the electoral officer who is now residing in Tamale.

Dr Clifford Braimah, Northern Regional Secretary of the NPP at a press conference in Tamale on Friday, alleged that the group members were disguised activists of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who were ben= t on interfering in the district level election, which is supposed to be non-partisan. He said when the youth group locked up the electoral office, the matte= r was reported to the police and the office was subsequently opened and statements taken from the suspected perpetrators, but added that since then nothing had been heard from the police.

Mr Enock Dansu is the District Electoral Officer. Dr Braimah said although the group said they did not understand the reason for the creation of the two new electoral areas in the Chamba area, it was unfortunate for them to take the law into their hands and lock up th= e ECs Office. He said what was also most worrying was that Alhaji Mohammed Ibn Abass= , District Chief Executive of Nanumba North, who in 2008 stood on the ticket of the NDC for the Member of Parliament for the area and lost to the incumbent MP, Mr Dominic Nitiwul of the NPP, was backing the action of the activists. Dr Braimah said having lost the previous election and now given the position of DCE, Alhaji Abass was mobilizing funds and resources and using all means to ensure that he got elected as MP in 2012. The NPP Regional Secretary cautioned the activists of the NDC against interfering in the affairs of public offices and said what they were currently doing with the Electoral Commission in Bimbilla was sending the wrong signals that the 2012 elections were not going to be free and fair. He therefore called on the national office of the NDC to disassociate itself from the actions of the so-called youth group if they had nothing to do with it.