NDC Primaries: Voting Begins Today

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will commence voting to elect its Parliamentary candidates later today.

The primaries are being held in 157 constituencies across the country where 524 aspirants have been cleared to contest.

The NDC suspended the primaries Asawase, Ellembelle, Fanteakwa North, Mpohor and Yilo Krobo constituencies.

There will also be no election in 39 other constituencies where incumbent Members of Parliaments or aspirants are contesting unopposed.

Six aspirants in the primaries were disqualified a few days to the polls.

In addition to the NDC Presidential candidates, John Mahama’s poor showing in the 2016 election, the party’s fortunes notably swung in the Central, Greater Accra, and the Western Regions for representation in the legislature.

Out of the 23 seats in the Central Region the party only won four seats compared to 16 seats after the 2012 elections.

Also in the Greater Accra region, out of the 34 seats, the party has 13 seats, compared to the 20 seats it had after 2012 elections.

In the former Volta Region, which is now Oti and Volta Region the party, the NDC has 25 out of the 26 seats, which is still considered underwhelming by some observers because the Volta Region is considered a party stronghold.

In the Ashanti Region, the party’s weakest zone, it will hold elections in only three constituencies namely, Sekyere Afram Plains, Offinso North and Ejura Sekyedumase.

In the Eastern Region where the party has only six seats out of the 33 seats, it will be holding the election in 10 constituencies.

In the Greater Accra Region, elections will be held in 31 out of the 34 constituencies.

Ahead of the polls the Party issued some directives to ensure peace at the centre including barring the agents of the various parliamentary aspirants from carrying phones near voting booths at the centres.

The voters will also not be allowed to carry phones when going to vote.

The centres are also supposed to be campaign free zones.

—citinewsroom