I am still consulting - Addai Nimo

Francis Addai-Nimoh, one of the presidential hopefuls in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is yet to take a firm decision regarding his ambition to contest for the party’s flagbearership position in the upcoming National Delegates’ Congress in October.

He has disclosed that he is still consulting his supporters and other top people across the country who supported him, to seek their opinions on whether it was prudent to go ahead and contest for the enviable position or bow out.

Mr Addai Nimo stated in a chat with Kwame Adinkrah on Angel Fm that he was aware that some party supporters were calling on him to step down from the race, adding that so far he had not decided on anything yet.

The Asante Mampong MP, against all odds, caused a major upset in the NPP’s Special Delegates’ Congress which was held to reduce the party’s presidential aspirants from seven to five.

Mr Addai-Nimoh, who was a debutant in the party’s presidential race, was able to place fourth with 2.98 percent of votes cast to qualify to take part in the party’s congress in October.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was a run-away winner of the election, amassing 80.78 percent of the valid votes cast, leaving the six other contestants far behind.

Considering Nana Akufo-Addo’s convincing victory in the elections, several NPP supporters across the country have been calling on the other contestants to bow out of the race and allow Nana Akufo-Addo to go unopposed.

These NPP supporters argue that the party is in opposition now, so it does not have the necessary resources to campaign.

They argue that as a result, it is not necessary for the NPP to use its scanty resources to organise another congress.

Many are of the view that it would make more sense if the NPP saves its resources now and uses it to campaign vigorously to topple the President Mahama-led government in 2016.

Mr Addai-Nimo admitted that he was aware of the pressure being mounted by these NPP supporters, stating that he could not take such a big decision in isolation without consulting key people who supported his presidential bid.

He was of the opinion that the people who exercised their franchise in the Special Delegates’ Congress were few, and so could not reach even one percent of the 140,000 voters who would vote in the upcoming congress.

Mr Addai-Nimo said it was crucial that the NPP upheld its Constitution now and followed exactly what is stipulated by the Constitution, especially regarding the selection of a flagbearer for the NPP.

He said the NPP should let its Constitution work, and by so doing the party would send a strong signal to the world that indeed the NPP believes and indeed practises democracy.