Parties gearing up for Abuakwa North by-election

The Electoral Commission is yet to determine a date for a by-election in the

This follows the sudden death of the Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa North constituency Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, on February 9, 2016.

The by-election will be held in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution as amended.

It also stipulates that whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk to Parliament shall notify the Electoral commission in writing within seven days after the vacancy occurred, and a by-election shall be held within thirty days after the vacancy occurred. (6) Notwithstanding clause (5) of this article, a by-election shall not be held within three months before the holding of a general election.

The Accra Regional Police command on Thursday, February 11, 2016, confirmed the arrest of the suspect in connection with the death of the Abuakwa North MP.

A source at the Police Command told Pulse.com.gh that the suspect, Daniel Asiedu was picked up at his hideouts on Thursday.

He has been handed over to the national headquarters for further interrogation.

The seat which has been the strong hold of the NPP since 1996 was occupied by the flagbearer of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo who was the member of Parliament.

In a telephone interview with Pulse.com.gh, Eastern regional chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Umar Bodinga is confident the NPP will retain the seat.

He said the party will wait for the Electoral Commission (EC) to open nominations before it decides a date to hold primaries for the election.

Asked whether the NPP will contest in the by-election considering that the general elections is nine months away, Alhaji Bodinga said "Yes..the NPP will contest if the EC gives the go ahead."

"The NPP will field a strong candidate who will win and win convincingly in memory of the late JB Danquah," he said.

NPP June primaries

During the NPP primaries in June 2015, the late JB Danquah contested Mr Kay Amoah Jnr, a lawyer by profession.

JB Danquah polled 235 votes to beat his main contender who polled 117.

The National Democratic Congress were not available at the time of filing this report.

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