<<Print>>

THE DIRECTOR of Elections of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has said the number of "No" votes recorded at the just ended primaries for President John Mahama signifies that the party's internal election was transparent, free and fair.

Speaking on Peace FM's Morning Show 'Kokrokoo' programme yesterday, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo revealed that none of the voters were forced to vote for any candidate against their will.

He said the 61,836 'No' votes recorded was a true reflection that the party’s internal structures for voting was one of the best because nobody was coerced to vote ‘Yes or No’ for the president.

“It is good we have seen that even in our own party during elections some members have exercised their franchise that they don't want President Mahama to lead us, and that is just a small number,” he said.

He said, the ‘No’ votes were not too significant but very significant to the extent that the process was not staged or massaged but it was open and transparent and “we respect those who even said no”.

This was after President John Mahama secured an overwhelming 1,199, 118 ‘Yes votes representing 95.10% from party members in a presidential primary held on Saturday and Sunday.

Out of a total of 1, 286 728 party members who cast their votes, 61,836 voted ‘No’ in relation to President Mahama’s candidature in 265 out of 275 constituencies. The ‘No’ votes represented 4.90 per cent of a total 1, 260 954 valid votes cast with 25,774 rejected ballots representing 2%.