The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested six persons in connection with the ongoing regional executive elections at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium.

According to the Regional Crime Officer, Supt. Bernard Baba Ananga, the suspects looked suspicious and appeared to be people plotting to create mayhem at the venue.

All the six persons were spotted in hidden rooms placing phone calls, while the conference was in progress.

“It appears that most of them were here for a different purpose. We were here as early as possible to ensure that the gates were opened to the public. We visited all the rooms and detected that some people were hiding somewhere; about five of them, so we picked them up and sent them to the office for investigations.

“Another one found himself in a secret room somewhere making calls, and one of our officers spotted him. We saw that these persons appear to be characters that look suspicious,” Supt. Ananga told JoyNews.

The six have since been sent to the Police station for interrogation and investigation.

He further clarified that an earlier gunshot that was heard outside the stadium was not from the Police.

31 people are contesting 16 slots in the Northern Regional polls.

The 382 delegates voting in the region are made up of 306 constituency executives, 17 regional executives, 10 Council of Elders, 10 Council of Patrons, four founding members, nine Members of Parliament and 26 members of TESCON.

Each aspirant is expected to be at the venue with two agents and three supporters.

Other persons allowed to enter the venue are Electoral Commission officials, accredited media personnel, assigned security on duty, members of the election committee and accredited invited guests.

NPP regional executive elections

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has begun its regional delegates conference to elect new executives.

Four regions, including Northern, North East, Bono East and Western North will have their polls on Friday, with other regions scheduled for Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29.

Already, an injunction has been sought by some aggrieved persons in the Ekumfi Constituency from a Cape Coast High Court to restrain organisers of the Central Region conference from holding the elections.

Positions

The positions to be contested for include Regional Chairperson, First Regional Vice Chairperson, Second Regional Vice Chairperson, Regional Secretary and Assistant Regional Secretary.

Others are Regional Treasurer, Regional Organiser, Regional Women’s Organiser, Regional Youth Organiser and Regional NASARA Coordinator.

Director of Elections and Research for the Party, Evans Nimaako, has said measures put in place will help to ensure a seamless and transparent process.