Sissala West Assembly fails to elect P.M.

Gwollu (U/W), Nov. 24, GNA - An expectant crowd at the newly created Sissala West District on Tuesday filed out of a hall at Gwollu in disappointment after the 20-member Assembly had failed to elect a Presiding Member at their first ever election.

The election, which was contested by three members, Mr Nawei Alidu, John Waalo and Ismail Nadah had to travel three rounds without success before the Electoral Officer adjourned the next election to come off on Monday November 29, 2004.

The election was predicted to be free and fair but ended up registering rancour and bitterness among the rank and file of the Assembly.

In the first round of the election, Mr Nawei Salifu scored 10 votes while Mr Ismail Nadah and Mr John Waalo got seven and three votes, respectively.

After the first round, Mr John Waalo, who had the lowest number of votes agreed to step down to pave the way for re-negotiation between the two other contestants. The second round again recorded Mr Salifu as leader with 10 votes while Mr Nadah had eight with two rejected ballots.

The Electoral Officer after the second round gave the two candidates 10 minutes to go out to canvass support but that still did not change the voting pattern as Mr Salifu still recorded 10 votes with Mr Nadah polling eight votes with two rejected ballots.

At this stage, the Electoral Officer could not longer do anything but to adjourn the elections to Monday November 29.

Earlier, Mr D.A. Yakubu, Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, who represented Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister, urged the Assembly to see the development of the District as overriding ethnic and political considerations.

He said the District was a new one and members should not allow themselves to be influenced by other parochial motives rather than a common ground for development.

The crowd expressed disappointment in the Assembly for failing to elect a Presiding Member.