Delegates of the National Democratic Congress have began voting across all 275 constituencies in the country to elect a flagbearer to lead the party in the 2020 general election.
The about 280, 000 delegates made up of branch, constituency and regional executives, regional council of elders, MPs, former government appointees and founding members will be electing the best among the seven candidates contesting in the flagbearership race.
The seven candidates are former President John Mahama, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, former Vice Chancellor of University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi, former CEO of the NHIA, Sylvester Mensah, Goosie Tanoh and businessman, Alhaji Nurideen Iddrisu.
The NDC is using a rather new electoral process this time round – the most exhaustive any political party in Ghana has ever used in choosing a flagbearer – with more than 250,000 delegates voting from all 275 constituencies of Ghana.
Ahead of the contest, two of the seven candidates are alleging that seals on bags containing ballot papers for the party’s presidential primaries have been tampered with.
Alban Bagbin and Prof Joshua Alabi say the process may be compromised if the concerns are not immediately addressed.
Mr. Bagbin in an interview on Accra based Joy FM threatened court action if the reports of a compromised process turn out to be true.
“If the process is so compromised that it will tend to invalidate the elections results, definitely, we will resort to the court for action,” he said.
It remains to be seen through which of the seven contestants will be chosen by delegates to lead the party into a fierce battle with the stakes at an all high level come December 2020.
Watch a livestream of the NDC’s Presidential Primaries below
By: Kekeli Kuatsenu/awakenewsonline.com
