Drama at DCE confirmation as NPP supporters hoot at MP

There was drama at Bole during the confirmation of the District Chief Executive DCE) for the area, Madam Alele Veronica Heming.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi, Alhaji Issifu Sulemana who is a member of the District Assembly stood his grounds that the Assembly vote a Presiding Member(PM) before confirming the President’s DCE nominee for the Bole District.

The MP and some Assemblymen insisted that it was against the standing orders of the Local Government Act to proceed and confirm a DCE nominee before electing a Presiding Member. But this did not go down with some NPP activists who massed up near the Bole District Assembly Hall hooting at the Bole-Bamboi MP.

After a closed door meeting with the Deputy Minister of Northern Region Hon Solomon Boar and some stakeholders it was decided the election of a Presiding Member takes place before the confirmation of DCE.

Chiu Peter, the Assembly member for Jama Electoral Area and Abaka Peter, Assembly member for Kakiase electoral Area were nominated to contest for the position of Presiding member and at the end of voting Chiu Peter got 21 votes representing 53.65% and Abaka Peter had 17 votes representing 43.59% meaning none of them won the Presiding member position. It was late so the election of PM was postponed but a government Appointees Abeesowura IG Mumuni was appointed as the Member Presiding for the confirmed of the DCE.

While some argued that the MP’s stance delayed the confirmation, many also said the MP was not wrong in insisting for the right thing to be done and have lauded his stance as a mark of leadership and principle.

The MP for Bole- Bamboi explained that said; “The standing orders of the assembly is clear that the house after inauguration should the election of PM as it’s second business. The letter inviting me to the meeting was on the confirmation of DCE. The attention of the deputy was drawn to the clause in the standing order. The visiting team Deputy Northern Regional Minister and the District Coordinating Director agree that it’s unconstitutional and agreed that we vote for Presiding Member first”.

Later Madam Alele Veronica Heming was confirmed as the District Chief Executive for the Bole District. Out of a total vote of 38, she pulled 26 “Yes” representing 68.42% and 12 No.

Before the Bole confirmation the Deputy Minister of the Northern Region was also in Sawla for the confirmation of the of Mr Lawal Tamimu who was confirmed as the District Chief Executive for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District. He polled 44 votes representing 97.7 percent.

The number of Assemblymen for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District is 47 but 45 voted. While only one person voted “No”, one vote was rejected.

During the voting, the former claims officer of the NHIA for Sawla -Tuna-Kalba District and assembly man for Sanyeri electoral area, Hon. Gbaran Gbolo showed his vote to the public perhaps because some suspected him of not voting for the DCE because he also vied for the position.