NDC Rebels Against Mills

President John Atta Mills� preferred man for the position of Majority Leader in Parliament faces rejection from members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), as MPs hold a crunch meeting with the President on the crucial issue today. The NDC MPs have decided to meet President Mills to submit the names of their choice of leadership, which they settled on by consensus after a meeting chaired by outgoing Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin, yesterday. The names are definitely not those proposed by the Castle, setting the MPs and the President on a collision course. Even though the names of the new leadership had not been given out David Tetteh Assumeng, MP for Shai Osudoku dropped a hint on Citi, indicating that President Mills� subtle intention of making Cletus Avoka and Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Majority and Deputy Majority Leader respectively might fall flat, as the NDC legislators had not been consulted on the two personalities. Member of Parliament for Sege, Alfred W.G. Abayateye, is one of the complaining MPs who told newsmen in Accra that seniority would be the order of the day. Abayateye said he was equally qualified to e the Majority Lacer, but had been in Parliament for only six years, which disqualified him. According to him, the Majority caucus would consider seniority as a factor in choosing its leaders, virtually dismissing Cletus Avoka, MP for Zebilla who had been in and out of Parliament for three terms. Avoka is believed to be an experienced MP and a brilliant lawyer but not outspoken enough in Parliament because he had always combined his legislative duties with ministerial work whilst Pelpuo is considered too soft-spoken and relatively young in the House. Even though Castle had denied that its candidates are the fallen ministers, there are strong lobbying going on to ensure that the MPs agree on the two former ministers. Avoka and Pelpuo were sacked as Ministers of the Interior and Youth and Sports by the President in his maiden cabinet reshuffle on Monday evening and information leaked to the media indicate that the President has given their names for the leadership on the majority side of the House. Alban S.K. Bagbin, Majority Leader in Parliament; John Akologu Tia, Deputy Majority; and Enoch Teye (E.T. Mensah Majority Chief Whip, have been picked form the leadership of Parliament by President Mills to serve in the executive arm of government. This exercise of executive powers has since angered NDC MPs who complained that President Mills had not consulted them before �poaching� their leaders.