The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, Osman Iddrisu, has denied claims that the party distributed food to voters during the special voting exercise held on Monday, December 2, 2024.
Background
Reports surfaced that the incumbent Member of Parliament and NPP parliamentary candidate, Lydia Alhassan, was seen handing out food packs to voters at the Legon Police Station polling centre. This sparked public outcry, with accusations of voter influence leveled against the MP and her team.
Osman Iddrisu’s Response
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Iddrisu refuted the allegations, asserting that the NPP only provided drinks to its agents and not to voters.
- Provision for Agents, Not Voters:
- “It is not true. We are mature politicians, and when people are working, we must get something for them to eat. We didn’t give it to people who are voting; we gave it to people who are our agents.”
- He emphasized that there was no food distributed, only drinks, such as canned beverages, given to their agents.
Accusations Against the NDC
Iddrisu accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of trying to disrupt the electoral process, claiming they brought individuals to intimidate others at the polling station.
- “The NDC people this year want to mar the election. Our party is a peaceful party; we stand by democracy and the rule of law. We don’t do things as they do.”
NPP’s Commitment to Democracy
The NPP chairman reiterated the party’s adherence to democratic principles and electoral regulations, stressing their focus on conducting a peaceful and fair election.
As the election approaches, the controversy over the alleged food distribution underscores heightened tensions between the NPP and NDC in Ayawaso West Wuogon. Both parties continue to defend their actions and commitments to electoral integrity. Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s investigation into the incident will shed further light on the matter.
