Odododiodio Bye Election: Blood Will Flow

The race for the Odododiodioo Constituency by-election appears to have taken a new twist, wit Nii Lante Vanderpuiye, press secretary to the defeated National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, threatening Reginald Niibi Ayi-Bonte, a defeated New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the constituency, with mayhem.

Nii Lante, yesterday, Wednesday, July 20, 2005 warned Niibi Ayi-Bonte who has re-launched his bid for the vacant seat to stay out of the race. "If he dares enter the race, there would be something else. He should just keep quiet and go and sit somewhere and allow other people in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to come forward, "Nii Lante warned, in apparent frustration to his inability to contest the seat, because of his alleged involvement in electoral fraud. Nii Lante blamed Niibi for his ordeal, stressing that he would not find it easy, if he jumped into the fray.

The ace football commentator resigned his job at The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to enable him to contest the Odododiodioo parliamentary election in December 2004. He was later charged for electoral fraud involving multiple registrations, and was eventually debarred from contesting the seat. He stepped aside for the late Samuel Nii Ayikwei Mankata, the eventual winner. He said Ayi-Bonte cannot stage a comeback after messing up his life. "He should just leave the scene for Laryea Squire, Dr Hammond and the rest. And if he comes back, there would be something else, because this is not December."

He explained that at the time NDC shoved him aside, he could not challenge the decision, because he was engaged in helping the party to win the elections. "But now, it is my own individual life. I cannot allow anybody to mess up my life in this way and the person would come and glorify it. I have no problem with other candidates, he stressed.

Nii Lante Vanderpuiye, who told newsmen that he has not yet overcome the problem which led to his disqualification, stated that he has not ruled out joining the race for the Odododiodioo by-election. "I have suffered so much and when I want to get involved, things would find their levels. Nii Lante Vanderpuiye will take control of the area," he threatened. According to him, even though three people have showed interest in standing for NDC, his candidacy still stands. His candidature, he claimed, was only set aside, and therefore he was the legitimate candidate, if there is a by-election.