Failed NDC aspirant for the Agona East seat, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has said the defeat he suffered at the hands of Queenstar Maame Pokuaa Sawyerr does not come as a shock to him and has urged supporters in the constituency to rally their support behind the victor. To him, in so far as Maame Pokua is not contesting in her own interest but on the ticket of the NDC, all hands need to be on deck to ensure victory for her candidature in next year’s elections. “... I was not shocked, there is nothing like shock ... I am with the people and I stand with the people because Maame Pokua is not contesting for herself but for NDC, and so we will all rally our support behind her ... ,” Mr Ahwoi said. The Agric Minister was speaking in an interview on Accra-based Radio Gold on Monday. Last Saturday's round of parliamentary primaries for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in some orphan constituencies in the five regions in the southern sector produced interesting results with some stalwarts in the ruling party receiving knockouts. Mr Ahwoi lost the Agona East primary by three votes to Maame Pokua who polled 146 votes. The minister had 143 votes. The other two contestants, Eric Turks on and Kojo Yankah’s younger brother, George Yankah, had 82 and one vote respectively. But some say the NDC candidate-elect for Agona East won because of the financial backing of the National Security Advisor, Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, alleged to be her campaign manager. Speaking on the same platform, Maame Pokua Sawyerr debunked claims that Brigadier Joseph Nunoo-Mensah offered her any form of financial support. She, however, admitted that the National Security Advisor called her to offer his support, guidance and counsel but not to campaign against her other opponents. She also dismissed assertions that she is a member of the Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR). “ ... same party so everybody has the right to support anybody. The fact that Brigadier calls me to give me support in terms of advice does not mean he supported me financially. My victory is not victory for FONKAR. In the first place, there is no FONKAR in the NDC ... If anybody says there is a problem between Maame Pokua and Ato Ahwoi, the person is telling lies ...”, she added.