Aspiring candidates vying for National executive positions in the governing National Democratic Congress have had their say for a while now. It is time for the delegates within the party to have their way.

On Saturday these delegates will select from 70 candidates, men, women to steer the affairs of the NDC for the next four years. And with the 2016 elections just a blink of an eye away, the delegates have their jobs cut out for them. They need men with substance and women with mettle to hand the NDC and President John Mahama a historic third term. The stakes are exceedingly high and the battle incurably rough.

PALACE COUP

Incumbent Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei is no doubt in for the battle of his life.

He may be the most decorated NDC Chair, having won back-to-back victories for the NDC in 2008 and 2012 elections but all that hangs in the balance now because his subordinates, the people who assisted him in achieving that feat are all eying, vying and threatening to unseat him in what may be described as the most legal 'palace coup' in Ghana's political history.

Kofi Portuphy NADMO boss and currently Vice Chairman of the NDC; Alhaji Hudu Yahya, former General Secretary and currently Vice Chairman; Dan Abodakpi former Trade Minister and currently Vice Chairman are all tired of playing second fiddle to a boss they no longer have confidence in, and are itching to be in the driving seat.

Dr Kwabena Adjei is convinced the NDC has been infiltrated by persons whose names he would not mention in public but whose vile propaganda, vote buying credentials have only tended to weaken the probity and accountability philosophy which formed the foundation of the NDC.

He said the NDC is not for sale to the highest bidder and has warned such persons to reform or be shipped out of the party.

Political watchers say Kofi Portuphy is perhaps the biggest threat to the incumbent. He is tough talking, action oriented and just a little more charismatic than the incumbent. He can stand up to the NPP but Dr Adjei maintains he is the man to beat.

Dan Abodakpi and Alhaji Hudu Yahya are perhaps replicas of the incumbent. They are soft spoken and may be seen as weak but they are also well known within the party. They represent two of the Regions-Volta and Northern, seen as World Banks of the NDC and that would be crucial in galvanising support for the party in the 2016 elections. It remains to be seen where the pendulum would swing.

Another battle to watch out for is the National Organiser position.

Kofi Adams has vacated his Deputy General Secretary position with a promise to do away with the incumbent Organiser Yaw Boateng Gyan.

Adams says Boateng Gyan is incompetent and has no clue what the job description of an organiser is. Boateng Gyan on the other hand says the NDC is not ready for traitors who would sell the party out to their foes; referring to a 2012 leaked take which purported to have Mr Adams making untoward remarks against then President Mills’ candidacy for the highest office in the Nation.

The accusations and counter accusations have been riotous.

Adams has the backing of Mr Rawlings but it remains to be seen if the founder has any influence left within the party. And while the Rawlings spokesperson is not contesting the General Secretary position a little 'fight' between him and Johnson Asiedu Nketia could also play a role in who gets the nod.

Asiedu Nketia is influential within the party. He is seen as a cult leader, or at least that is what Adams wants the world to believe. He has warned party delegates to stick to the winning team or he would take up another job. Would that positively or negatively affect the chances of Yaw Boateng Gyan, Dr Kwabena Adjei and George Lawson? Tomorrow will tell.

Nketia, popularly called General Mosquito, is destined to retain his position but his deputy George Lawson cannot say same with confidence.

He has two party gurus to contend with- former Adentan MP Kojo Adu Asare and former Director of Communications at the Presidency, Koku Anyidoho.

The race has been largely quiet but the adrenalin turned up higher with just a day to go for the elections.

Kojo Adu Asare with such venom shrugged off an underdog tag daring his competitors to name their achievements in service to the party.

He claims to have raised $300,000 in a fund raising ceremony and erected 40 giant bill boards ahead of the 2012 elections. “What have they done?” he challenged. He is banking his hopes on his experience as a banker to catapult him to the promised land but Koku Anyidoho kept it rather simple, stating “the person you know in the day, you do not use a lantern to look at him at night”.

So who would the delegates look at? What would Rawlings say? What message would the President give? Will there be any controversies? For answers to all these and more, stay glued to Myjoyonline.com.