NPP Bantama Election Descends Into Chaos, 3 Held
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bantama Constituency executive election descended into chaos after suspected thugs stormed the voting centre at the Centre for National Culture in Kumasi, disrupting the exercise, destroying electoral materials and leaving one person injured.
Police arrested three suspects in connection with the incident. They are the constituency organiser, Shaibu Bamba, the Adoato Polling Station Chairman, Abdullah Abubakar, and a third suspect whose identity had not been disclosed at the time of filing this report.
According to eyewitnesses, the violence erupted shortly after the Ashanti Regional Police Commander visited the venue and departed.
About seven heavily built men reportedly invaded the election centre and vandalised electoral materials, including the ballot box, ballot papers, plastic tables and chairs, forcing officials to suspend the voting process.
The election, involving 1,218 delegates, had already been clouded by controversy after three party members secured an injunction challenging the process over the alleged removal of their names from the party’s voter register.
As a result of the court action, the Electoral Commission (EC) declined to supervise the election, compelling the party leadership to conduct the poll independently.
It was during the party-supervised voting process that the violence broke out.
The injured victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for treatment, while the three suspects were taken to the Ashanti Regional Police Command to assist with investigations.
Police have since declared the election venue a crime scene and launched a full-scale investigation into the disturbances as efforts continue to identify and arrest the remaining suspects involved in the attack.
SWIFTNEWS3 understands that the incident has heightened tension within the constituency, with party officials expected to announce the next course of action after police complete their preliminary investigations.
