Vanderpuye to contest Odododiodo seat on NDC ticket

Accra, Nov 22, GNA - Mr Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a broadcaster and former assemblyman, was on Saturday elected as parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to contest the Odododiodioo Constituency seat in Accra in the 2004 elections.

He polled 156 of the valid votes cast to beat Mr Ishmael Aryeetey, a former Accra Mayor and Member of Parliament who had 112 at the constituency's primaries, supervised by the Electoral Commission in Accra.

Speaking heartily with the GNA, after the announcement of the results, Mr Vanderpuye described his victory as divine, and said it was the first step to win back the seat from the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2004 elections.

"God gave me this victory, and it is the same God who will give me victory in 2004. This is the beginning of the end of Nii Bi Ayi Bonte's reign, and the return of the NDC to power."

Nii Bi Ayi Bonte is the current Member of Parliament for the Odododiodioo Constituency, on the ticket of the ruling NPP.

Mr Vanderpuye said he would use his popularity as a former Assemblyman, to galvanise the youth who form the majority of the population in the constituency to redeem the seat, which the NDC lost in the 2000 elections.

He said the current MP, Mr Ayi Bonte, was his good friend, but expressed regret that both Mr Ayi Bonte and the NPP had disappointed the electorate.

"I'm going to tell and galvanise the people for real positive change", Mr Vanderpuye said.

Mr Aryeetey conceded defeat and promised to work with Mr Vanderpuye. Prior to the election Mr Joshua Alabi, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Dr Nii Josiah Aryeh, General Secretary and Nii Okaija Adamafio, a Former Interior Minister called on the party supporter to kill any bickering and rally behind the winning candidate to redeem the seat.

Dr Aryeh described the Odododiodioo Constituency as a hotbed of political party activity in the country and urged party supporters to conduct their campaign in a peaceful manner.

Mr Alabi reminded supporters that the NDC would be at a disadvantage and reduce its fortunes if they used their time and other resources to solve problems among members when their rivals were rather seriously campaigning and urged the electorate to rally behind the winner to start campaigning immediately.

A new phenomenon that occurred at Saturday's primaries, the first of the NDC in the Greater Accra Region, was the calling out of the names of eligible voters for identification before they cast their votes.

Mr Nat Quaye, District Electoral Officer for the Odododiodioo Constituency described the calling out of the names as a positive development in the voting process and said it must be replicated in all the primaries at the various constituencies.