The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has expressed concern over extremely low voter turnout in the Ayawaso East by-election, despite describing the polls as peaceful and incident-free.

His concern about participation comes even as he remains confident that the NPP’s candidate, Baba Ali Yusif, performed strongly at the polls, citing what he described as a positive reception from voters across the constituency.

Speaking on JoyNews on Tuesday, March 3, after polls officially closed and sorting and counting began, Mr Mustapha said the general atmosphere throughout the day had been calm.

“As we speak, it’s been incident-free. It’s been very peaceful,” he said, adding that the development reinforces the point that elections do not have to be violent.

“I think it is commendable that we say so to buttress the point that by-elections don’t need to be violent and elections in general do not need to generate violence,” he stated.

Mr Mustapha said he spent most of the day walking through parts of the constituency with the NPP candidate, interacting with residents and encouraging them to vote.

“I have walked with him essentially most part of today and I am quite happy with the reception that we got, going around greeting people and reminding them of the need to step out and vote,” he noted.

According to him, many voters assured the party’s team that they had already cast their ballots or were heading to the polling stations.

“The sort of reception that was accorded him and the promises made to him that indeed we have voted already or we’ll be heading out to the polls very soon and we shall remember you, I think by and large I can say that the candidate of the NPP, Baba Ali Yusif, has enjoyed quite a good run,” he added.

However, he acknowledged that once on the ground, the low turnout was difficult to ignore.

“Except to add that turnout has been very low. I mean, once you step on the ground, it’s quite clear to you that there’s a problem as far as turnout is concerned,” he said.

He further indicated that the party would, in the coming days, reflect on possible factors that may have affected voter participation in the by-election.

With counting underway, residents and political observers are awaiting the final results to determine who will represent Ayawaso East in Parliament.