The Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had a commanding lead in the governing New Patriotic Party’s special electoral college in the party’s quest to select a presidential candidate on November 4 for next year’s general elections.
The Vice President, who is seen as the established candidate, put up a strong show with 629 votes representing 68.15 percent of the total votes cast in the election held on August 26.
Saturday’s exercise was meant to whittle down the 10 aspirants who have expressed interest in leading the NPP into the 2024 elections to five.
Dr. Bawumia was trailed behind by Kennedy Ohene Agyapong who garnered 132 votes representing 14.30 percent of the valid votes cast, and closely followed by Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen who polled 95, that is 10.29 percent of total valid votes cast.
The fourth person who made it to the top-five is former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who managed a paltry 36 votes constituting 3.90 percent of the valid votes cast.
The special electoral college however failed to produce the fifth candidate as a result of a tie.
Francis Addai Nimoh and Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko both polled 9 votes (0.98 percent). The party is expected to trigger the next line of action to break the tie ahead of the November primary.
This is how the rest of the candidate fared: Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, 6 votes; Joe Ghartey, 4 votes; Kwadwo Poku, 3 votes; and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku had no vote (zero).
The total votes stood at 927, with 923 valid votes and 4 rejected votes.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NPP Vetting Committee Prof. Mike Aaron Ocquaye has announced that a run-off would be held next week Saturday for the two who tied with 9 votes each – Francis Addai Nimoh and Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko