Bawku (U/E), Dec. 11, GNA - A forty-five-year-old businessman, Abdul-Malik Imoro Salifu, beat four other contestants to be elected the chairman for the Bawku Central constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at a delegates' conference held at Bawku on Sunday. He polled 45 votes against closet challenger, Alhaji Imarana Tanko, who obtained 24 votes. Other contestants were Mohammed Murtala Ibrahim, a former 1st vice-chairman, 18 votes, Mohammed Ali 7 votes and Malam Dantami 2 votes.

The post of first vice-chairman went to Malam Abubakar Nuhu, who secured 47 votes as against Seidu Awudu's 37 votes and Kasim Abdulai Awim's 12 votes, whilst Alhaji Bukari Chiri had 37 votes to beat Alhaji Fuseini Issaka to take up the 2nd vice-chairman position. In the other keenly contested positions Adam Issah Zangbegu obtained 45 votes to beat three contestants for the secretary post, whilst Alhaji Yakubu Haruna beat Bashiru Abdul-Wahab by 55 to 41 votes to take up the assistant secretary post.

Alhaji Shamsudeen Baba-Yaro also polled 43 votes to sizzle past three contestants to win the treasurer position with the post of organiser going to Nashiru Osman, who obtained 21 votes to beat three others.

The women's organiser post went to Madam Fati Musah, who had 58 votes as against three others who vied against her and the youth organiser going to Nashiru Musah Delwinde who had 48 votes to beat two other contestants.

The National Chairman of NPP, Mr. Peter Mac-Manu, together with some regional executives, supervised the election. Swearing in the new executives, Mr. Mac-Manu told them to refrain from divisive tendencies which would only pull down the party and bring dissatisfaction and suspicion among party members. He urged the executives to ensure that their affairs were run in a transparent manner to win the confidence of the people to continue the successful implementation of its policies and programmes. Mr. Abdul-Malik Imoro Salifu thanked the delegates and promised to solicit the support of the other contestants to ensure that the party had united front to face its challengers.