<<Print>>

THE SIMMERING brouhaha about the ruling National Democratic Congress� (NDC) upcoming parliamentary primaries is said to have intensified as Vice President John Mahama and Presidential Aide, Nii Lante Vanderpuye are allegedly entering the fray. Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that the two top NDC officials are allegedly scheming to unseat the incumbent NDC MP for Sissala East, Hajia Rafatu Alhassan Dubie Halutie. The two men are said to be allegedly secretly sponsoring the DCE of Sissala East, Sulemana Alijata to oust the MP who is also a minister of state at the presidency in the parliamentary primaries slated for early next year. Sources within the constituency have alleged that the DCE has been going around telling delegates that Vice President Mahama and Nii Lante have asked her to contest the seat. According to the sources, the DCE informed delegates that the castle duo had allegedly promised to foot all her expenses if she gets the nod as parliamentary candidate for the area. When contacted, MP Halutie confirmed the information but said she was treating the DCE�s claims with contempt having known the caliber and credibility of the vice president over the years. Emphasizing that the vice president would not dabble in such matters, she said the DCE was only trying to play on the intelligence of delegates with her lies. All efforts to get in touch with Spokesperson for Vice President Mahama, John Jinapor proved futile as he failed to answer his calls. DAILY GUIDE dialed Mr. Jinapor�s mobile number with the office line. His number rang several times but went unanswered. Some constituency executives told the paper that both the Vice President and Nii Lante knew what the Sissala East MP went through to redeem the NDC in the constituency during the party�s opposition struggle. According to them, they are for now treating the DCE�s claims as mere allegations adding that they would write officially to the party if she continues with what they termed as �wicked and fabricated lies about the MP and some of the constituency executives.� Our sources also claimed that relief items sent to the district by National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) were allegedly shared to party delegates by the DCE in order to woo them ahead of the party primaries, claiming she bought them with her own resources. The Constituency Chairman, Alhaji Musah Ayamga noted that even though some of them did not like the manner in which the DCE was conducting herself in the district, they only hope her behavior would not derail government�s Better Ghana agenda. The relationship between the MP and the DCE has been not been the best and since the latter�s appointment, the two women have not been working together as party members, a situation which party faithful see as a recipe for defeat in 2012 general elections. The allegation against Nii Lante has not been proven but the presidential aide has declared his intention to contest and oust the Odododiodioo MP, Jonathan Nii Tackie-Komme. This declaration resulted in two of them reportedly engaging in near fisticuffs at a party meeting. It was during this nasty encounter that a pistol-wielding guard to Nii Lantey, one Okoe threw heavy punches at the NDC Constituency Women�s Organizer, Mavis Manukpor. Lamenting over the ongoing brouhaha regarding the parliamentary primaries, Ade Coker, Greater Accra Regional NDC Chairman, warned that all those who are jumping the gun and creating confusion would be disqualified ahead of the elections.