Dr Pelpuo
Some National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislators have criticised the move by the regional chairmen of the party to ostensibly back the candidature of John Dramani Mahama for the elections in 2020.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) cautioned that such moves could compromise the unity of the NDC.
The regional chairmen, in a brief communiqué after a meeting with the former President, asked him to embark on a ‘Thank You Tour’ to aid party’s reconciliatory and healing process.
But some observers have interpreted the call as a subtle move to endorse Mr. Mahama’s candidature ahead of the party’s election in December 2018 to choose a flagbearer as well as regional and national leaders.
NDC MP for South Dayi, Rockson Dafeamakpor, noted that “these regional chairmen, who also are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), have in a way sidelined, or will seek to sideline other potential contestants, and as the highest decision-making body of the party, they ought not to do that”.
He said calls for Mr. Mahama’s return should be left to the MPs as they are the people on the ground and reminded them of their neutrality so that the party is not seen as not united.
The Wa West MP, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, advised the regional chairmen to “play within the rules”.
“I am sure they are responding to the pressures from the grassroots, but they should be able to advise the grassroots so we can all do it in a decorous manner,” he suggested.
Sam George, MP for Ningo Prampram said the chairmen should learn from Mr. Mahama’s stance on the matter.
“President Mahama himself has been on record to say that the time for campaigning and declaring has not come yet. You need to take a cue from your leader,” Mr George said.
George Lawson, a Deputy General Secretary of the party, also said the action from the chairmen was needless and a distraction and was adamant that the party needed to be focusing on the reorganisation because without it the party can’t get a leader.
“For now, what we need from the regional chairmen is an update on the reorganisation in their various regions and if they are going to issue a statement, the statement is supposed to be about the reorganisation,” he stressed.
Mr. Mahama has also underscored the importance of the NDC’s regrouping saying it would be unwise for him to declare his intention to contest while the party is still reorganising after its heavy defeat in the 2016 polls. –citifmonline.com
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