Pusiga (U/E), June 28, GNA - Dr Simon Akunye, a 45-year-old Medical Assistant, last Tuesday won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries in the newly created Pusiga Constituency of the Upper East Region to contest Election 2004 on the Party's ticket. He polled 88 votes out of 133 votes cast to beat three other contestants in the race.

The Regional Executives of the Party and the Interim Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Constituency, Mr Sumaila Haruna also graced the election, which was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and supervised by officials from the Electoral Commission. In his victory address, Dr Akunye thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and called for unity within the Party to support him to win the seat for the NDC.

He stated that the NDC, which had the panacea to the problems confronting the nation, was poised to recapture power from the NPP, which he said had disappointed the nation.

Dr. Akunye, who owns and operates a clinic in Pusiga, said his decision to contest the parliamentary seat for the area was borne out of his desire to improve the socio-economic condition of the people. He pledged to work hard and called for support from the other contestants to win the seat, stressing that his victory was a credit to the democratic credentials of the NDC.

The Regional Chairman of NDC, Alhaji Abubakari Huudu also known as Patience earlier on reminded the Party delegates not to allow tribal considerations to influence their decisions to support any of the candidates.

He also cautioned the supporters, to desist from playing partisan politics on tribal lines, adding that this would only weaken the front of the Party.

Alhaji Huudu advised the supporters to refrain from using abusive language against their opponents that would endanger the peace in the area.

He appealed to the supporters to rather convert the electorate with good conduct to ensure a massive victory for the Party.

In a fraternal message from the NPP, Mr Haruna called on both the supporters of NPP and NDC, to demonstrate a high sense of civility and maturity in their campaigns to safeguard the stability of the nation. He noted that party politics was a vehicle for social development and that supporters of various political parties should stop regarding one another as enemies.