THERE was drama at the Builsa North Constituency of the NPP primaries held in Sandema in the Upper West Region.

It centred around the Regional Economic Planning Officer, Mr Joseph Akanpatulsi, who is also the Presiding Member of the Assembly on one hand, and his ex-wife, Madam Agnes Asangalisa, on the other.

Mr Akanpatulsi, who was a supporter of the NDC up to the time the party lost elections in 2000, had quickly switched over to NPP in 2001. He contested the District Assembly elections in Siniesi Electoral Area and won.

Spurred on by that victory, he went ahead and contested and won the elections as the Presiding Member.

Basking in those ?victories and power?, he thought the way was clear for him to become a Member of Parliament for the area. He even bragged of the possibility of being appointed a Minister of State, since Alhaji Aliu Mahama was his mate in the University.

His ambitions were however shattered by his ex-wife who is a trader and decided to test her popularity against her ex-husband.

When the results of the contest were declared, Madam Agnes Asangalisa had beaten her ex-hubby to a distant second place.

Mr Akanpatulsi is now back at the Regional Co-ordinating Council, licking his wounds, with retirement staring him in the face.

Humilating as Mr Akanpatulsi?s defeat was, even more humilating was that of the third placed person, Mr Azagsuk Azantilow. Mr Azagsuk Azantilow, who was the NPP, parliamentary candidate in the 2000 elections got only one vote, most likely that of his own.

However, political observers have found the developments interesting, not because the NPP has any chance of winning the parliamentary seat there with a woman as its candidate, but that the woman rather relatively unknown, could beat the garrulous ex-husband. It was more of a protest vote.

The NDC remains the strongest party in the constituency.