The National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Chereponi bye-election, Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite, was yesterday, Tuesday, September 29, 2009 declared winner by the Returning Officer, Alex Wada.

With votes collated from 52 out of the 55 polling stations as at the time of going to press, Mr Abdulai Jabanyite had polled 8,229 votes as against his close rival, Abukari Aminu Gariba of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who had 7,416.

Earlier, many voters defied early downpour and went out in their numbers to cast their votes. As early as six o’clock, long queues were formed at all polling stations visited. In spite of the tension, voting was orderly as police personnel led by the Police Regional Commander, ACP Awuni Angwubutoge, patrolled the entire constituency throughout the voting period.

The Police Commander and his men also mounted barriers at all entry points and conducted searches on all vehicles and motor bikes entering the constituency. In one of such searches, two weapons were retrieved from two gentlemen who were arrested and put behind bars at Chereponi.

According to ACP Angwubutoge the move was to ensure that nothing disturbed the election process and cautioned executives of both the NDC and the NPP not to interfere in the duties of the police.

Meanwhile, all non-accredited persons, including the popular Azorka boys, were prevented from visiting any of the polling stations. This, nearly resulted in a confrontation as some youth who had traveled all the way from Tamale, Gushiegu and Yendi to Chereponi resisted that order.

The Police Commander and his men, however, managed to calm down tension. Meanwhile, between 25 and 30 policemen and three military personnel were stationed at the counting centres to prevent any interference from any quarters during the counting process.