Edward Mahama beats Ayariga to lead PNC in 2016 elections

A Gynaecologist-cum-politician Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama has been elected as the presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC) at its congress in the Upper West region.

Mahama, who led the party in the 1996 elections through to the 2008 polls before being succeeded by Hassan Ayariga in the 2012 elections, polled 492 votes as against Ayariga’s 426 votes.

This will be his fifth attempt at the presidential seat of Ghana.

Dr Mahama received 3.0% of the votes in the 1996 elections. In his second attempt at the presidency in 2000, he won 2.5% of the votes. He placed third out of four candidates during the 2004 elections, winning 1.9% of the votes. His last contest was in the 2008 presidential elections.

Meanwhile, former general secretary Bernard Monah has been elected as the national chairman of the PNC, Awudulai is now the youth organiser with Desmond Ntow taking the national organiser spot.

Ahead of the congress, confusion erupted between supporters of the two leading contenders for the presidential slot of the Nkrumaist party.

According to reports, gunshots were heard as supporters of Hassan Ayariga and Dr Edward Mahama clashed at the congress grounds.

The Regional Crime Officer Superintendent Alhaji Fuseini has confirmed the arrest but said no injuries were recorded.

The police had to call for re-enforcement to beef up security.

Vote buying Ayariga was fingered in alleged vote buying, having distributed some cash, motocycles and mobile phones to some delegates in the open in a bid to lead the party again in the 2016 elections.

A total of 1,536 delegates took part in the congress.