Chereponi bye election: Two ballot snatchers nabbed, polls progess

Police in Chereponi early on Tuesday botched a frantic attempt by a popular NDC supporter in the Northern Region, simply known as Azorka, from entering the election town. Azorka is said to have attempted entering Chereponi with a group of young men from Tamale who he presented as National Democratic Congress polling agents, but the names of the young men were not in the list of polling agents presented to the police, Luv FM’s Elton John Brobbey reported. The young men have reportedly pitched camp at a spot a few metres away from the Chereponi border while Azorka is said to have managed to enter the town. But this was after he had engaged the police in a heated debate. The Northern Regional Police Commander ACP Angwubutoge Awuni, who confirmed the incident to Joy News, said police have also arrested two persons who attempted to destroy ballot papers in Chereponi. The people of Chereponi are voting to elect a Member of Parliament (MP) to replace former MP, Doris Seidu, who passed away a few weeks ago after a short illness. ACP Awuni said the two men – whose names were given as Alhassan Yakubu and Abdulai – are currently in the custody of the Yendi police. Describing security in the town as “tight,” ACP Awuni said his men would deal with anyone who attempts to foment trouble. “We are not going to allow anyone who has nothing to do with the electoral process in this Chereponi to infiltrate the polling stations,” ACP Awuni hinted. There were earlier reports of clashes between sympathisers of the NDC and the NPP. The parliamentary election is being contested by candidates from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), People’s National Convention (PNC), New Vision Party (NVP) and the Democratic People's Party (DPP). The town has a voter population of about 26,000 and election watchers describe the race as a straight fight between the NDC and NPP. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana