Disunity in NDC helped NPP in 2016 — Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said internal wrangling in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) helped his 2016 presidential victory.

According to him, there is no denying fact that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) worked tirelessly to defeat the then ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

President Akufo-Addo, who was being frank, however, disclosed that internal wrangling and factions in the NDC, contributed to the NPPs sweet victory.

“The Rawlings, Mills and Mahama factions and infighting in the ruling NDC also played a key role in helping us to win the 2016 presidential elections”.

President Akufo-Addo made the revelation, whilst addressing NPP members at the Heroes Park in Kumasi on Sunday afternoon.

The occasion was the NPP Extraordinary National Delegates Conference, which was used to amend some portions of the party’s constitution.

Interestingly, most of the proposed amendments including the one which seek to ban party members with dual citizenship, from contesting of holding party office, were withdrawn.

Other proposed amendments that seek to give special powers to MPs in the selection of NPP constituency executives, was also withdrawn, following an appeal by Nana Akufo-Addo.

Continuing, President Akufo-Addo also said ruling political parties in the country usually lose polls to their opponents due to internal wrangling.

He noted that such internal wrangling usually occurs in areas where MMDCEs and tried to contest sitting NPP MPs.

According to him, the NPP suffered from the MMDCEs and MPs infightings in 2008, when the party lost the presidential seat to the NDC.

On the other hand, he said the NDC had also lost two key elections to the NPP in 2000 and 2016 due to animosity between MMDCEs and MPs.

President Akufo-Addo stated that the NPP National Council, with his (Akufo-Addo’s) backing, has banned MMDCEs from contesting sitting NPP MPs.

He stated that MMDCEs who want to contest sitting MPs of the party should resign three years before the elections, saying that move is to ensure party peace.

According to him, the NPP wants to remain political office for a longer time therefore they would not allow MMDCEs selfish interests to send the party to opposition.