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Petty squabbles among some leading members and aspirants ahead of Saturday’s parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress in the Greater Accra region is threatening the targeted 60 percent votes and 25 parliamentary seats for the ruling party in the 2016 elections.

Whiles the leadership of the party in the nation’s capital region hope President John Dramani Mahama’s numerous developmental projects in region would be the “the magic wand”, infighting among parliamentary candidate aspirants is sharply dividing many constituencies.

In most of swing constituencies in the Greater Accra region where the party had won with less than 500 votes in the last elections, cracks are deep such that, not until the party takes immediate steps to address the issues, the NDC could lose those seats to its arch rival, NPP.

NDC’s continued hold on areas like Ablekuma Central, Korle Klottey, Adenta, Ledzokuku, Krowor, Ayawaso North and Madina constituencies, political pundits have observed, will be dependent on how the party manages the outcome of its primaries.

In all these constituencies, currently being held by the ruling party, The aL-hAJJ’s investigations have revealed that constituency executives, with tacit support from some regional and national executives, are openly or covertly rooting for their preferred candidates which has the potential of dividing their ranks, going into the 2016 polls.

This is said to have made nonsense of the hitherto united front that existed between constituency executives and party supporters.
In the Ledzokuku constituency for instance, the former Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Daniel Amartey, is reported on a revenge mission to ditch incumbent MP, Benita Sena Okity Duah, for allegedly working for his removal as MCE.

In the same constituency, a former MP, Nii Nortey Duah, has also announced a comeback, seeking to uproot the incumbent MP while at the same time, he is said to be throwing deadly salvos, some of which borders on alleged fraud, at the former MCE, Mr. Daniel Amartey.

In the Ablekuma Central constituency, a deputy Director at the National Youth Authority, Peter Boamah Otokunor and Alhaji Halidu Haruna, a former aide to the former deputy Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia, are also reportedly engaged in ‘suicidal’ mission that is likely to cost the NDC the parliamentary seat.

The parliamentary contest in the constituency has become a straight fight between the former constituency executives who are seeking to “pay back” Alhaji Halidu Haruna for supposedly campaigning against them in the last constituency primaries; whiles the new executives are allegedly backing him (Alhaji Haruna).

The situation in the Adenta constituency is quite intriguing, as two former love birds, incumbent MP, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore and former MCE, Kakra Vanlare, together with two other aspirants are slugging it out.
Madam Kakra Vanlare is said to have sworn revenge against Ashie Moore for allegedly instigating her removal from office at the Adenta Municipal Assembly after “breaking up” with her.

The case of Madina, Krowor, Korle Klottey, where daughter of former President Rawlings, Dr Zanetor Rawlings is challenging the incumbent, Nii Armah Ashitey, among others are also not devoid of their share of the NDC internal strife.

Aside Ayawaso West Wuogon where the candidate is going unopposed; the four other constituencies the NDC has targeted to snatch from the New Patriotic Party in the 2016 election are all having their own version.

In the Okaikwei North, Ayawaso Central, Tema East and West constituencies, all part of the NDC agenda 25 seats, there are serious internal bickering among aspirants and constituency executives.

The situation at Ayawaso North is no different from others except in their case, while many in the constituency thought incumbent MP, Dr Ahmed Mustapha should have given way to fresh person after 16 years; the four persons contesting him have not helped themselves as they are likely to share the votes that could make it easier for the incumbent MP to retain his seat.

What is however not certain is whether his contenders, Yusif Jajah, Ali Dawud, Mohammed Amin Lamptey and Abdul Jelil Abdul Rahaman and their supporters would throw their weight behind Dr Mustapha to prosecute the 2016 elections, given the level of ongoing acrimony amongst them.