The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will struggle to achieve twenty five percent of valid votes cast in the 2020 elections, an activist and a polling station executive of the party in the Ashanti Region has predicted.
Yakubu Tony Aidoo speaking on Adom FM’s Morning Show, ‘Dwaso Nsem’ on Thursday said he foresees the party heading to a massive defeat if it fails to present former President, John Dramani Mahama as its candidate for the 2020 polls.
“If we fail to bring back John Mahama, the NDC will get only 25% in the next elections, people are clamouring for his return and I will organize to ensure that they boycott and vote against the NDC if they fail to present JM…,” he said.
The battle for the soul of the biggest opposition party in Ghana began right after the party lost the 2020 elections and Nana Addo was sworn in as President.
Persons including the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has claimed that Mahama is the NDC’s surest bet for 2020.
“He is my candidate; I can confirm that to you. If he throws his hat in the ring, he will have my full support. And I think that he is our best bet because on what record, who’s legacy will we be running on? It is his record,” Mr. Ablakwa said.
The party’s National Organiser and the 2016 election campaign coordinator, Kofi Adams has also insisted that the NDC cannot forego the President whom some have tagged as the most successful leader in the history of the umbrella party.
He had argued that President Mahama’s withdrawal from leading the party in the 2020 contest will be a big blow to the NDC.
“If such position is likely to cause the party’s future, is it not right that we demonstrate to save the party? I’m ready to demonstrate now,” Adams said.
A pro-NDC newspaper, the Al Hajj reported that a junior brother of the former President, Ibrahim Mahama has responded that the family of the former President has decided that the former President should retire from politics.
“John has given his all in politics to NDC and Ghana and we think it is just fair that we allow him to rest. We were very supportive and instrumental in convincing him to partner late Prof Mills, and when the time came for him to contest for President, we supported him and advised him to go for it…now we have again advised him not to make a comeback in 2020,” he was quoted as saying in January 2017.
But the known scrap dealer in the Ashanti Region is of the opinion that the party should count the 2020 elections a lost battle if they fail to present John Mahama for the next elections.