The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in the process of selecting a new parliamentary candidate for the Odododiodio constituency after the incumbent MP, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, opted out of the race.
With Nii Lantey Vanderpuye bowing out, three aspirants have officially submitted their nominations to vie for the parliamentary slot, with the selection scheduled for October 31, 2023.
Nii Adjebu Lamptey, Chairman of the NDC Elections Committee in the Odododiodio Constituency, has issued a reminder to party sympathizers within the constituency to exercise caution in their expressions and conduct during the ongoing campaign.
Speaking with Citi News at the NDC constituency office, Mr. Lamptey advised, “NDC members and supporters, what we are doing now is an internal competition, and we hope that all of them will comport themselves, so that we can have a peaceful election. The filing of nominations has been very peaceful, and we expect that it will continue like that. On Friday, there will be vetting at the regional party office, and on October 31, the elections will proceed as planned.”
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye had served as the Odododiodio MP since 2013. He was initially elected as the MP during the 2012 elections, engaging in a fierce contest against Victor Okaikoi of the New Patriotic Party. Vanderpuye had expressed strong confidence in his victory, notably stating in November 2012 that if he received less than 65% of the vote, he would concede the seat to Okaikoi.
Ultimately, Vanderpuye secured a slightly narrower landslide victory than anticipated, receiving 45,967 votes (63%) against Okaikoi’s 26,269 (36%), and Emmanuel Odoi of the Convention People’s Party with 745 votes (1%).
In December 2016, he retained his position as the member of Parliament for the Odododiodio Constituency, garnering 36,606 votes (57.04%) against the New Patriotic Party candidate’s 26,671 votes (41.56%).