Five National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopefuls have cast their ballots in the party’s ongoing presidential primaries.
Former President John Dramani Mahama voted in the Bole constituency while Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin voted in the Nadowli Kaleo constituency.
Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA); Mr Sylvester Mensah, former Minister of Trade, Ekwow Spio Garbrah and former Vice-Chancellor of University of Professional Studies; Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi voted in the Greater Accra Region.
Two other candidates, Goosie Tanoh and Nurudeen Iddrisu, will not vote because they do not meet the voter eligibility criteria.
Chairman of the party, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo explained to the media that the two could not vote because they have never held any official position in the party to warrant them a delegate status.
Before casting his ballot, Mr. Bagbin called on all aspirants to support whoever will emerge the winner in the primaries.
Almost 280,000 delegates of the NDC are expected to cast their ballot in the election.
Collation of the results is expected to take place at the EC headquarters in Accra with the results being announced at the NDC headquarters in Accra.
Alabi alleges irregularities ahead of primaries
An aspiring flagbearer of the NDC, Joshua Alabi had earlier alleged some irregularities ahead of the primaries.
He said his team had evidence that some seals on bags containing election materials have been broken.
“The seals on the bags were broken,” he said on Eyewitness News on Friday.
On whether he would withdraw from the race over the irregularities, Joshua Alabi said: “we are going ahead with the election.”
In a separate statement, Joshua Alabi’s team among others accused some regional election directors of turning a blind eye to the alleged compromised process.
“The Prof. Joshua Alabi Campaign Team has with a heavy heart observed that the processes leading to tomorrow’s NDC’s contest in search of a flag bearer to lead the National Democratic Congress into the 2020 presidential election has been grossly compromised ahead of the contest. Seals of the seven aspirants that of the EC and the NDC affixed to the bags containing the ballot papers were broken before they arrived at the various destinations in the regions.”
He said his team spotted such discrepancies in the Ashanti and Central regions.
Mr. Akamba, however, denied the claims, saying he was shocked to learn that some seals on bags containing election materials had been broken because they received police escort.
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By: Marian Ansah| citinewsroom.com| Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah