<<Print>>The Eastern Regional offices of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Koforidua, the capital, were on Tuesday turned into a boxing arena when supporters of two contenders of the party’s parliamentary primaries were spotted creating chaos.
A group of people believed to be thugs, numbering about 30, who come under the name, Lower Manya Bull Dogs, from Nima, a suburb of Accra – allegedly hired by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lower Manya Krobo, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi – clashed with supporters of Isaac Agbo Tetteh, the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), at the vetting grounds.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that the thugs, wielding pieces of stick, attempted to attack Mr Agbo Tetteh, after he and Mr Terlabi had gone through the vetting and was going back to his car.
Supporters of Tetteh reportedly started sneering at Terlabi after both contenders had gone through the vetting and balloting for positions on the ballot paper – an act that purportedly incurred the wrath of the Nima guys, who vented their anger on Agbo Tetteh.
It took the intervention of some NDC supporters at the premises to calm down tempers.
Eighty-nine aspirants, including the seven sitting MPs who are vying for the 33 seats in the region, were vetted by the NDC national and regional officers.
Okletey Terlabi is facing a stiff opposition in the run-up to the primaries, slated for November 7.
Mr Terlabi, former defence minister, is also being challenged by one Geoffrey Nark-korli and the Volta Regional health director, Dr Joseph Nuartey.
Prior to the 2012 primaries, DAILY GUIDE learnt, these contenders rallied behind Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi to unseat Michael Teye Nyaunu, the former MP. However, they are said to have turned their backs against the incumbent MP because they think he (Terlabi) could not lobby for more developmental projects for the area.
The vetting of other aspirants, as at the time of filing this report, was still ongoing.