5 Pick forms to contest NDC presidential primary

Four more presidential aspirants have picked nomination forms for the upcoming presidential primary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This brings to five the number of aspirants who have so far had nomination forms picked on their behalf for the flagbearership race which closed at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Before the deadline elapsed yesterday, Prof. Joshua Alabi, Mr Sylvester Mensah,  Mr Stephen Atubiga and Mr Alban Bagbin had picked forms to contest the presidential primary of the party.

Prof. Alabi is a former Rector of the University of Professional Studies, while Mr Mensah is a former Chief  Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr Bagbin is the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Mr Stephen Atubiga is a member of the party.

It was, however, not clear yet if the supporters had the consent of the flag bearer aspirants before purchasing the form.

On Monday,  constituency executives in Asawasi in the Ashanti Region picked nomination forms on behalf of  former President John Dramani Mahama.  

on Tuesday, those in La Dadekotopon Constituency in Accra picked the form for Mr Mensah while party bigwigs such as Mr Ken Dzirasah, led some NDC members, including Mr Victor Adawudu, picked the nomination forms on behalf of Prof. Alabi.

Followers of Mr Atubiga also picked nomination forms for the presidential aspirant.

The followers who were said to be from the onion market in Accra arrived on Tuesday afternoon with a bundle of cash amounting to GH¢20,000 as payment for the forms.

By picking the form, Mr Atubiga who describes himself as the ‘man of the people’ is getting a step closer to aspiring for the flag bearer position of the NDC.

Level playing field

Most of the supporters who picked the nomination forms on behalf of the aspirants called for a level playing field in the process leading to the elections and requested that the filing fee must be reduced.

Next hurdle

All the aspirants have the next hurdle to cross which is to pay GH¢400,000 as filing fee.

Mr Atubiga, Mr Bagbin, Mr Mensah are among a team of flag bearer aspirants who are against the amount to be paid as nomination and filing fee.

The aspirants also have 10 days, starting from last Monday, to complete and return the forms to  the NDC headquarters.

No second chance for 'crying' aspirants

According to the party's General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia no aspirant would be given a second chance if he or she failed to pick the forms.  Seven other aspirants who had expressed interest in the contest did not show up to pick the form by the 5p.m. closing time on Tuesday.

They are Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Mr Elipklim Agbemava, Mr Nurudeen Idrissu, Mr Kojo Bonsu, Mr Goosie Tanoh, Mr Kweku Rickets Hagan and Mr David Dotsey Kwami Kuwadah.

However, some aspirants had already raised concerns and were threatening court action.