NDC Will Win More Votes In 2016 � Alhaji Bonaba

The Upper East Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Alhaji Mumuni Bonaba, has vowed to help the party capture the Talensi and Nabdam seats from the New Patriotic Party if he is re-elected. He equally pledged that the NDC would win more votes in the 2016 general election in the region, saying " in spite of the economic challenges, NDC will win the 2016 election massively because those challenges would end by the close of this year". Speaking to his teeming supporters after picking his nomination forms at the party's regional office at Bolgatanga, to contest the chairmanship Alhaji Bonaba stated that his vision was to help build a permanent regional party office by the close of 2015. He said land had already been acquired for that purpose. He said one of his top priorities was to facilitate the provision of offices for all NDC constituencies in the region. "My hard work has endeared me to the people who are always urging me on to file again to contest the chairmanship; indeed, I am a unifying factor in this region," he observed. According to him, some people wondered how "an illiterate like me should be a party chairman but I want my detractors to know that I am able to handle the supporters well and that is why they like me." Allegations The chairman rejected claims that he used his position to lobby for almost all the contracts in the region without even executing some of them speedily and properly. He explained, " I am a businessman and what I do is to go to Accra and get the jobs". Alhaji Bonaba equally denied having a hand in the removal of the former Regional Minister, Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh, from office. Factionalism The Regional Secretary of the NDC, Mr Donatus Atanga, observed that the much-talked about political factionalism existed in all parties but the NDC was managing it maturely. According to him, there were experienced elders in the party who handled such cases. He added that �in any case, we have the Conflict Resolution Committee that addresses those concerns.� He noted that the Council of Elders were also there to do their bit to foster unity in the party. Mr Atanga stated that "once a party is in power, you would certainly have people struggling for positions". Nominations The Regional Organiser of the party, Mr Baba Kumasi, said as of 3:00 p.m on Monday 27, people vying for the chairmanship, youth organiser, deputy youth organiser, secretary and organiser positions had picked their nomination forms. According to him, nominations would close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. He said the region was ready to organise its regional election by the end of this month(September) and that the necessary logistics and security arrangements had been made.