The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed the party’s decision to maintain John D. Mahama as their Presidential candidate for the 2024 general elections.
Although Peter Otokunor was unable to confirm if NDC’s 2020 Presidential candidate had declared his intentions to run in the 2024 elections, he described the introduction of a new presidential candidate for the party as “ridiculous”.
Speaking to Evans Mensah on Top Story, Mr Otukonor stated that reports from the grassroots indicate that Mr Mahama is the best choice for the NDC in the 2024 elections as it is believed that he will come and right the wrongs of the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
“The people of this country are resolved to give President Mahama a chance to come and fix what has been broken by the Akufo-Addo government. It appears that it is a groundswell from the party base that President Mahama would be our best choice for 2024. As to whether he will decide to contest for not, that one I may not be able to speak to that.
“As others have earlier on intimated that you have a marketed candidate, very well-known candidate, very loved by all somebody who has to watch an election that has been botched, that has been altered, then you will go for a new candidate into a contest in 2024. I mean it will be most ridiculous. I think the worst political strategist will not make that mistake,” he said.
His comments follow a report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit on Friday, March 19, which suggested that although the NDC will win the general elections, the party stands a better chance with a new candidate.
In the 25-paged document sighted by JoyNews, the EIU said this new candidate should be introduced to desist rumours that former President John Dramani Mahama who is also the party’s 2020 flagbearer is likely to contest again.
“After two terms of NPP government, we expect the NDC to win the 2024 presidential election and to gain a small majority in Parliament…..Mr. Mahama is reportedly considering whether to run again, but we expect the NDC to seek to revitalize its prospects with a fresh candidate,” part of the report read.
But Mr Peter Otokunor described the report as one that lacks credibility as it is based on “conjecture”.
“First of all, we think that the EIU report has not proven credible over the years so it is not any report that we would hold very high in esteem especially as most of their research outcomes or their reports is not based on scientific research but rather ostensibly it is based on conjecture.
“So if it is conjecture by an individual who would sit and look at things that we already know, recount and make such conclusions, then the weight, the credibility, the gravitas, the contribution that it will make to political strategy would be very minimal and for that matter, I think that it is not anything to go by,” he explained.
He is of the view that this report by the EIU is trying to cover-up for their wrong forecast of the outcome of the 2020 elections.
“Everybody in this country knows that President Akufo-Addo didn’t win the 2020 Presidential elections. We know the NPP didn’t win a majority in Parliament. Contrary to the earlier prediction of EIU in 2020. So if they come up with this prediction, it is just riding on the back of the fact that the reality evaded or eluded them in 2020 and for that matter let’s make a prediction for NDC in 2024,” he stated.
In conclusion, he stated that “The people of this country are yearning for the real change that they desire. They are tired of the deceptive clueless incompetent government of the Akufo-Addo regime and I think that if the resolve they showed in the 2020 elections is anything to go by, it would amply be accentuated in 2024,” he concluded.
Latest Stories
-
‘Put our taxes to good use’ – Agbogbloshie traders urge AMA to desilt clogged drains
6 hours -
Deliver textbooks for basic schools before end of second semester – GNAT President tells goverment
6 hours -
Ministry of Education signs contract with Publishers Association to print textbooks for basic schools
7 hours -
Philip Kyeremanteng: Why Achimota Forest must be reserved
8 hours -
I went through proper procedures to acquire my tigers – Freedom Jacob Caesar
8 hours -
Tension simmers at UEW as Governing Council Chairman directs Registrar to proceed on leave
8 hours -
Nana Kojo Quaidoo: NPP internal elections – Akoto factor still gathering momentum in Upper East Region
9 hours -
U-17 WWCQ: Ghana beats Morocco 2-0 to claim first leg advantage
9 hours -
New Music: Kuami Eugene, Wendy Shay release new singles, Lojay features Chris Brown
10 hours -
Work to commence on Tumu-Han-Lawra Highway in June – UWR Minister
10 hours -
Cheddar’s Tigers are well secured – Forestry Commission
10 hours -
Who is Kelvin Taylor? – Yvonne Nelson quizzes
10 hours -
Eastern Regional Security Council disclaims video on alleged ritual murder
11 hours -
AIMS holds awe-inspiring Climate Science Speaker Series (CSSS) 2022
12 hours -
2 Nigerians arrested for attempting to kidnap a 5-year-old child
12 hours