Politics of Monday, 11 October 2004

Source: Lens

Shock Result In Anlo - Humado 169, Sowu 9

(Lens) -- The Anlo Constituency of the NDC produced the greatest of all shock results in parliamentary primaries conducted across the political divide in the country this year, when Mr. Clement Kofi Humado, a development economist, hand a one-time MP for the constituency, Sqd. Ldr. Clend Sowu, with a margin of one hundred and sixty votes, polling 169 votes as against nine votes by Clend Sowu.

In a very sharp contrast to what happened at the NPP primaries at Sunyani where the leadership of the NPP manipulated, cajoled, and even 'quarantined' delegates who were expected to vote at the primaries, in order to ensure that Senior Minister, Mr. J. H. Mensah is retained to run on the party's ticket, the NDC leadership allowed the delegates a free reign to choose a candidate of their own choice.

Prior to the NDC primaries in Anlo, fears were expressed in certain quarters that in view of Sqd. Ldr. Sowu's clout and influence in the party the leadership might interfere with the process to ensure a victory for him. But the result has proven those fears to be unfounded.

It would forever be to Sqd. Ldr. Sowu's credit that he graciously accepted the result and pledged his support for the winning candidate.

Meanwhile pieces of information that this paper has gathered from the Anlo constituency indicates that the independent parliamentary candidate for the area, Hon. Victor Gbeho, has given indication that he is prepared to withdraw from the contest in support of the NDC candidate.