Vote Buying Fear Grips NDC

AN ASPIRING Eastern regional vice chair candidate, Alhaji Konate Seidu has called on delegates of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to beware of potential vote buyers during the regional and national elections. According to him, the party needs dedicated and committed executives who are ready to sacrifice and work hard for the party to ensure that the umbrella family retains power in 2016 since the election will not be won on a silver platter. Alhaji Seidu, who is the owner of Heritage Transport in Koforidua, made this known to a section of the media after picking nomination forms to contest the regional vice chairman position. He explained that, the party would be doomed if delegates allow non-committed and disloyal persons to find their way into executive positions with the influence of money. He added that, the party needs executives who are accessible, approachable, committed, loyal and hardworking and in addition have good human relations and innovation in order to help retain power for the party. Mr. Seidu noted that throughout his lifetime, he has helped in organizing and canvassing votes for the NDC in the zongo communities and provided employment opportunities for a number of sympathizers in the Eastern and Ashanti regions; therefore, when voted as regional vice chairman, he would continue his dedicated service to the party. Some of the contestants who picked nomination forms to contest the various positions are Haruna Appaw Wiredu and Kwaku Asamoah both contesting as regional youth organizers. Mathew Doe, Stella Ansah, Kissi Osei Henock and Kwaku Agyei are also contesting the positions of regional secretary and vice chairmen positions respectively. The Eastern regional secretary, Anthony Gyampo, who is contesting the position of national vice chairman, told the media that nominations would be closed on Saturday, adding that filing of nominations would be followed with vetting to cut out unqualified candidates before a date is fixed for the regional election. The three persons keenly contesting the chairmanship race, Tawiah Boateng, Alhaji Sumaila Mahama and John Owusu Amankra are expected to pick their nomination forms today. Nominations were opened today across the region as feuding parties in a legal suit made progress in their latest attempt to resolve more than a month-old power struggle in the ruling party. Plaintiff of the case, Njonolah Linus, accepted an out of court settlement offer from the NDC national executive members to end the legal tussle that was centered on overstayed mandate of officers and a convention to discriminate against some members of the party to run for positions at the regional level.