There is a hot race in the Cheriponi Constituency for the seat of the late MP for the area, Doris Asibi Seidu, by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The competition in the party follows the declaration of the Cheriponi seat vacant and a date set for a bye-election by the Electoral Commission (EC) which many political analysts have tipped both the NPP and NDC for a close race. DAILY GUIDE investigations revealed that nine persons including a female and the constituency secretary of the party had filed to contest the party’s primary. Those contesting for the party slot are Abukari Aminu, Azumah Namora Sanda, Ibrahim Nabiema and Yahaya Mahamud. The rest are one Dr. Baba, Mr. Acquah, Madam Seidu Amina and Jacob Sandow who are already in the constituency trying to convince potential delegates to vote for them in the event of a primary. No date has been fixed yet for the primary. The Regional leadership though would not comment on the matter when DAILY GUIDE contacted them. It is believed that a screening exercise would be conducted to select a candidate. Deep-throat sources revealed to DAILY GUIDE that the NPP was attaching importance to the Cheriponi bye-election to ensure that the seat was retained but the NDC has also given the assurance that it would give the opposition a good run for its money. The political climate in the area after the burial of the deceased MP seems to be getting hotter on a daily basis following secret campaigns by both the NPP and the NDC. DAILY GUIDE gathered that the NDC intends fielding its 2008 defeated parliamentary candidate who is currently the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Alhaji Mohammed Issah Aba, but this the NPP noted, would propel them to victory. They have however warned against complacency. The DCE’s interest in contesting, DAILY GUIDE’s investigations revealed, was met by fierce criticisms from his party members who are warning of a walkover for the NPP and opting for a different candidate. As at press time, NDC constituency executives were tight-lipped over the matter. The Chereponi seat was declared vacant following the death of the NPP MP who was serving a second term in parliament. The late Mrs. Seidu came to Parliament on the ticket of the opposition NPP in 2005 and served on the Education and Mines and Energy committees. She retained the seat last year when she polled 9,188 out of the 17,559 valid votes cast, representing 53 percent of the votes. Chereponi is seen as a swing constituency and according to political pundits this does not bode well for the NPP which won the constituency by a very slim margin. The constituency is made up of two tribes, the Chokosis and Kokombas and political analysts argue that the NPP would need to get a candidate, who like the former MP, belongs to the two tribes, to win the seat. Source: Daily Guide