Mills To Quit NDC...And Form Own Party For 2012?

Signals picked up by the Ghanaian Observer newspaper point to a clear indication that in the throes of the ongoing battle for the soul of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President Mills may go to the Malawian way by quitting the party to form a new party to contest the 2012 election.

Incumbent Malawian President, Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika showed the way in 2005 when he quit his predecessor Bakili Muluzi’s United Democratic Front (UDF) and founded his own Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) on whose ticket he won a second term in elections in May, 2009.

The UDF remains under the control of the Bakili Muluzi. It is reported that after taking office, Mutarika came into conflict with Muluzi, who had become the chairman of the UDF. The conflict was over Mutarika’s campaign against corruption. The dispute between them was an important feature of Wa Mutharika first term in office.

Mutharika announced his resignation from the UDF on February 5, 2003, saying that he had no support in the party because of his stand against corruption. After quitting the UDF, wa Mutharika formed his own party, the PDP.

In April 2005, Muluzi apologized to Malawians for choosing Mutharika as his successor “and imposing him on the country”. Castle insiders, who spoke to the Ghanaian Observer newspaper, hinted that the possibility of President Mills quitting the NDC is very high as the Rawlings camp has made definite moves to convince him that they do not want him as NDC flagbearer for the 2012 election.

In the course of the last few weeks, salvoes have been fired from all corners of the Rawlings camp indicating that President Mills is not wanted for the 2012 election. The most notable of these signals is the immediate aftermath of the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of June 4 when it emerged that there are plans to push Nana Konadu Rawlings as NDC flagbearer for the 2012 elections.

Rawlings aide, Kofi Adams speaking for Nana Konadu has stated that the DWM amazon, without more and by her credentials is fit to run for President Adams, who doubles as NDC Deputy General Secretary and seems to have more loyalty to the Rawlingses than the NDC has however not stated anything to the effect that though Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings is fit to contest, she would not do so because President Mills is in office and has the backing of at least the Rawlingses.

The NDC leadership is also not known to have officially called Adams to order, at least publicly or officially for his ventriloquist posturing on the nervy issues. The ante for the disfavor of President Mills leading the NDC into the 2012 elections was also upped some notches higher when Rawlings pal, Herbert Mensah of Kumasi Asante Kotoko fame joined the commentary. Lyrical and normally calm Mensah has spoken of a vacuum that ought to be filled.

He claims that even the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in opposition has recognized the vacuum and is emboldened that it would return to government in 2012. Mensah’s pronouncement clearly suggests that there is a vacancy as to who leads the NDC to election 2012 that ought to be filled.

Mensah has already clashed, at least, in words with his long time pal and renowned Mills loyalist Ato Ahwoi in a manner that has left many who know the two gentlemen wondering where all the friendship they shared in the days when both were in charge of Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko has vanished to. For the first time, Herbert Mensah raised his voice in a manner that made many who listened to his interview on Accra base radio Gold wonder whether they were not listening to Rawlings.

The 1992 Constitution according to legal experts contacted by the Ghanaian Observer would not prevent President Mills from leaving the NDC to found a new party to contest the 2012 election. Unlike the case of MPs where the constitution frowns on a sitting Member of Parliament defecting to another party and maintaining his seat in Parliament, the constitution is silent on what should happen to a sitting President to Ghana who decides to quit the party on whose ticket he contested the election that brought him to office.

The Ghanaian Observer (GO) is also investigating hints that in the alternative situation where President Mills does not quit the NDC and sticks to plans to lead the party to election 2012, Mr. Rawlings may quit the NDC and found a new party.