PNC confirms Wumbego for Talensi by-election
Delegates of the People's National Convention (PNC) in the Upper East Region have, by popular acclamation, confirmed Dr Michael Wumbego, 43, a Lecturer at the School of Allied Health Sciences of the University for Development Studies (UDS),Tamale Campus, as their candidate to contest the Talensi by-election.
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The by-election is slated for July 7, 2015.
Dr Wumbego, who is also the Head of Department of Community Health at the School of Allied Sciences and Head of Clinical Skills for the Schools of Allied Health and Medicine of the UDS, started his political career in 1996.
He contested the parliamentary election in the Talensi area in 2008 and 2012 alongside Mr John Akologo Tia of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr Robert Nachinab Doameng Mosore of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who is now the Paramount Chief of Tongo.
Dr Wumbego, however, could not win in the 2008 and 2012 elections but placed third in both elections, coming after Mr Tia and Mr Mosore.
Confirmation
At the party's primaries held at Yameriga in the Talensi District and supervised by the District Electoral Officer, Mr Jones Mustapha, the delegates pledged to throw their weight behind Dr Wumbego to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the by-election.
Chances
Speaking about his chances in the by-election, Dr Wumbego was of the view that he was coming up against "unknown individuals" in the election.
"Any candidate that the NDC and NPP will field has no performance records," he noted.
According to him, he lost the two elections because Mr Tia and Mr Mosore had been in the system for long; but now that they are out of the scene, he is capable of winning the seat for the PNC.
According to him, residents of Talensi have assured him that it is now his time to win the elections. "If I become an MP, I will support parents and the aged in their income-generating activities while the youth who are brilliant but poor will be supported in their education," it said.
He expressed regret that education for the youth was at its lowest ebb in the Talensi District, saying, "Talensi had been a district for more than 10 years, but it seems the area is yet to assume the status of a district judging from the poor infrastructure in the district."
He mentioned poor road networks and inadequate education facilities as major challenges the area was facing.
"Around Winkogo for instance, whenever it rains, children cannot go to school and this has happened for nearly a decade; these are some of the things I want to solve," he stressed.
PNC's position.
A Policy Analyst of the PNC, Mr Atik Mohammed, said he was impressed with the turnout of the party faithful, saying, "This is a seat that is up for grabs."
Mr Mohammed, who is also an aspiring general secretary, observed that Dr Wumbego's election record over the years showed that he had what it took to capture the seat for the PNC.