NDC Flagbearership: Bagbin is in a comfortable lead – Yaw Oppong

Private Legal Practitioner, Yaw Oppong has singled out Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin as the most qualified candidate and the most prospective winner in the flagbearer race of the National Democratic Congress.

Five names have emerged particularly in the past few months as the aspiring candidates for the flagbership position of the NDC.

These individuals are; Former Minister of Trade and Industry Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Former Rector of UPSA, Prof Joshua Alabi, former NHIS Boss, Sylvester Mensah, Second Deputy Speaker in Parliament and Nadowli/Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin and Elikplim Agbemava, some of whom have already received endorsements from some party members.

Speaking on the ‘Big Issue’ Saturday, Lawyer Oppong highlighted Bagbin as one out of the five who has a higher chance of landing the Flagbearer slot in the upcoming polls on December 7. His confidence and skill with handling critical issues he said, are but some of the good qualities he possesses.

“If you ask me, I think Bagbin is in a comfortable lead, not the one that resulted in the defeat but among the five candidates excluding Mahama because he hasn’t announced. I admire him, he is very bold, and he has a chance to win. He is able to bring out certain key issues. I really admire him and if I had a vote, I might consider voting for him (Bagbin)”, he stated.

He declined to make emphatic comments about the former president John Mahama considering that he has still not yet made an official declaration of his interest in vying for the flagbearership position.

“Because former President Mahama hasn’t announced yet positively, I’ll leave him out”, he said, adding the fact that it was important that all others in the race however are encouraged.

“Let’s encourage all the others”.

The NDC flagged off the race on Thursday and announced that presidential hopefuls can start campaigning.

Interestingly, the party has not elected national officers to preside over the process and set guidelines for the conduct of the candidates.

Sources said the main opposition party was stampeded into lifting the ban on campaigning following declarations by Minority MPs to back John Mahama.

However, the party gave a caveat in lifting the ban, saying aspirants should notify the party before hitting the ground running.