General Secretary of the opposition NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie is accusing President Mahama of ‘bribing’ the Electoral Commission(EC) to disqualify the breakaway National Democratic Party from the December polls.
According to Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was ready for the polls but due to the pressure from president Mahama, she was unfairly disqualified.
Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings’ dream of becoming president of Ghana on the ticket of breakaway NDP was therefore cut short by the EC's decision.
Chairman of the EC, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan on Thursday rejected the nomination forms of the NDP saying they failed to satisfy all the requirements within the stipulated time.
Though the decision of the commission has not gone down well with the NDP, some people, especially in the ruling NDC, believed it was right because they (EC) played to the rules of the game.
But speaking on Multi TV’s political talk show, Badwam on Friday, the NPP’s scribe believed there were some hidden reasons behind the disqualification of NDP other than the issue of filling forms.
Sir John as he affectionately called, Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alleged that President Mahama had a hand in the NDP's disqualification because Mrs poses a threat to the electoral fortunes of the NDC in the December polls.
“Konadu was serious to contest the elections but because John Mahama called Afari not to accept her forms, she was denied. I know that was the issue not only that the forms were inaccurate. John Mahama knows that Konadu will disturb him so he called Afari Gyan to deny her. It is very bad for our democracy.”
He asserted that if it was a mere anomaly with the nomination forms, Nana Konadu should have been allowed to correct them because in 2008 Edward Mahama of the PNC was given ample time when his forms were inaccurate.
”I recalled in 2008, the EC upon the final day of filing knew that PNC’s Edward Mahama was not ready but gave him more time but why not that of Konadu? Is it because president Mahama bribed the EC?”
He described the actions of the EC towards Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings as biased, and asked the commission to revise its decision to enable her contest the December polls.
Sir John reckoned the EC is becoming undemocratic because someone who has shown commitment of seriousness like Konadu cannot be disqualified on a mere anomaly in a nomination forms.
“The EC must reconsider its decision to enable Konadu contest for the December polls. If the NDC is afraid, we are not afraid. If the NDC thinks they have worked hard as they claimed on a daily basis, why should they mastermind the disqualification of a candidate”.
Though he was unable to prove the allegations, Sir John says he is reliably informed that President Mahama masterminded Konadu's disqualification from the race.
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