General News of Thursday, 11 December 2008

Source: Chronicle

Prez candidate did not vote for himself?

...Wife & Family Members also voted against him
The Presidential candidate of the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), Mr Kwabena Agyei, has said he failed to obtain any vote at the Adiebeba Basic School polling centre, where he cast his vote for last Sunday’s presidential election.

"I scored zero at that polling station even though my wife, family members, friends, sympathisers and myself voted in that centre; How ironically I scored zero at that particular polling station amazes me " he indicated

Expressing concern about some irregularities that went on in the Ashanti Region during the elections he dismissed the assertion that last Sunday's elections were free and fair

Commenting on aspects of the parliamentary and presidential elections in the region, Mr Agyei said the elections encountered some irregularities because at one of the Offinso North polling stations, where the RPD Parliamentary candidate, Mr Alex Kofi Yeboah, and his family also cast their votes " we again scored zero, indicating that there were some problems with this election".

He said the election had given him a lot of experience, " which will guide me on what to do in 2012 when I will be firmly on the ground.”

He said at some centres where some aggrieved political parties called for recounting of votes, " the figures jumped astronomically to the surprise of all, indicating that there had been miraculous additions somewhere and this calls for vigilance in future.’’

He said he was merely co-operating with the electoral process to ensure peace “but it does not mean that I am satisfied with the trend of affairs."

Mr Adjei said it was important for the Electoral Commission to be circumspect in how to conduct future elections to make them free, fair and credible, and thereby ensure that the popular candidates emerged as winners to steer the affairs of the nation.

This, he noted, would accelerate the country’s socio-economic development.

" I am waiting patiently for the EC to declare the final results before I make a formal complaint.

Story by George Ernest Asare & Georgina Agyei Twum, Kumasi.