CPP Congress: Losing contestants disappear

Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - Some candidates and delegates at the Convention People's Party (CPP) Second National Delegates' Congress on Sunday morning left the venue of the election before the counting and the declaration of the results were concluded.

Mr Ibrahim Mahama, a candidate for the Presidential slot and Mr Iddi Egala for the National Chairmanship, were conspicuously missing, whilst their respective opponents, Mr George Opersika Aggudey and Dr Edmund Delle, were seen in jubilant mood, though at that time the results had not been officially announced.

Most of the losing contestants did not show up to be interviewed by the Media or to congratulate the winners.

Some delegates, who decided to stay till the end of the counting, slept in their chairs and on the floor of the hall, while others kept wake with sustained drumming and dancing.

The elections were not entirely peaceful as there were attempts by a few to vote twice and there were altercations over allegations of monies changing hands apparently to influence the trend of voting.

Mr Ibrahim Yakubu, one of the agents whom the Police slapped, told the Ghana News Agency that he was only protesting against the doling out of money by some agents when the Police attempted to drag him out of the hall. Mr Yakubu had violently shrugged off one of the Policemen, who nearly fell down but was save by the dais.

Mr Yakubu's friends warned the Police: "You can't take our brother away just like that," and the Police were compelled to leave him alone in the face of the protestations. The whole confrontation lasted about 15 minutes when voting was in progress.