Madina NDC primaries: stamped and unsigned ballot paper disagreement resolved

A disagreement over whether or not ballot papers should be stamped and signed by presiding officers erupted at the Madina Social Welfare Centre, where National Democratic Congress (NDC) delegates are voting in the primaries to elect a parliamentary candidate.

The elections had started with the Electoral Commission issuing stamped but unsigned ballot papers as agreed by the candidates.

But dissatisfied candidates insisted that that was not the agreement between them.

The Constituency Chairman, Mr Abdul Rahman Rahim who said he was informed by the election committee allowed the exercise to go on until the constituency election supervisor, Ms Kakra Vanlaire met and resolved out the issues with the candidates.

More than 1,500 delegates from 168 branches of the party are voting at the Centre where four candidates, Mr Ibrahim Faila Fuseini, Mr Sidii Abubakr Musah, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu and Hajia Rukaya Abubakr are contesting.

The Constituency Chairman told Graphic online that the incident was a mistake as the election committee didn’t inform him about their decision for it to be endorsed at the constituency level.

He was however glad that the issue had been resolved and a peaceful atmosphere created for the elections.

Mr Sosu who also spoke to the media said this year’s primary would be the most credible, free and fair in the history of primaries in the constituency.

One hundred and 190 delegates had voted as of 8.30 am. The party created three voting booths to facilitate voting.