Some 280,000 delegates will today, February 23, 2019 pass verdict on seven stalwarts who have given themselves up to lead the biggest opposition party in Ghana, National Democratic Congress, into the 2020 general elections.
The presidential primary will take place in all the constituencies across the country under the supervision of the Electoral Commission.
Election watchers have predicted a straight win for the former president, John Dramani Mahama but the margin, which establishes his popularity in the party, is what they are observing in today’s exercise.
However, many have not lose sight on the surprise factor. Elections at party levels have produced interesting and shocking results in past. Perhaps that is what the other candidates are banking their hope on.
The other candidates include the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin; former Vice Chancellor of University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi; former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Sylvester Mensah.
The rest are a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; businessman, Alhaji Nurideen Iddrisu, and a cadre, Mr Goosie Tanoh.
In the wake of political vigilantism, whose activities are becoming deadly, the leadership of the NDC has communicated its members that the Ghana Police Service will be in charge of security during the election. It has therefore issued strong warning to members to comply with police directives.
A statement has also been issued by the police asking unauthorized persons to stay away from certain security parameters, reiterating that the police would be solely in charge of all the various security structures at the various voting centres.
Ridding of motorbikes near voting centres during Saturday’s presidential primary has been banned.
“All persons who have nothing to do at the centres and are only there to observe proceedings should stay 50 metres radius away from the centres,” the police said.
The presidential primary was originally scheduled to have come off on Friday, December 7, 2018, in accordance with the constitution of the party to elect a flagbearer exactly two years to the presidential elections, if it is in opposition.
It was however postponed to January 26, 2019 following issues with filing fees, but exercise had to be rescheduled again to February 23 due to some legal issues.
Source: 3news.com
