NDC confident of attaining 50 per cent votes in E/R
The overwhelming turnout of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region at a mammoth rally has given a renewed faith to party supporters that the objective to achieve 50 per cent of the presidential votes in the region is attainable.
Followers of the NDC were out in their numbers on Saturday at the Jackson Park in Koforidua in what leading members described as the mother of all rallies in the region to wrap up the regional campaign ahead of Election 2016.
In attendance were the Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, the Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and other leading members of the NDC.
NDC performance
The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, who expressed his delight with the crowd, expressed the conviction that not only could the party achieve its agenda 50/50 in the region but a 60/40 performance in favour of the NDC could as well be attained.
In the 2012 election, the NDC polled 483, 998 votes representing 42.03 per cent and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) polled 655, 462 representing 56.91 per cent. And of the 33 constituencies in the Eastern Region, the NDC won seven and the rest went to the NPP.
But the NDC has resolved to increase its vote margin this time round in the region with the possibility to split the presidential votes with the NPP and increase its parliamentary seats to 15.
At the rally, Mr Asiedu Nketia entreated supporters to come out in their numbers and vote and urged them to resist any form of intimidation that might arise, adding that victory for the NDC was certain.
False allegation
Touching on the recent allegation made against the President for bribing the Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, to support the NDC, Mr Asiedu Nketia refuted that allegation and described it as ‘cock and bull’.
He challenged the NPP, which, he said, prided itself on being a party of integrity, to suspend Mr Naabu for accepting the bribe just like the NDC did when it suspended its former General Secretary, Mr Josiah Ayeh, for accepting money from the NPP members to demonstrate its abhorrence of corruption.
Voter education
The NDC Director of Elections, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, educated the supporters on how to avoid making mistakes on the ballot paper and asked the NDC supporters across the country to ensure that the ballot paper had the stamp of the Electoral Commission (EC) before casting their ballot.
Taking his turn to address the people, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Bismark Tawiah Boateng, introduced the NDC parliamentary candidates to the people and urged them to vote massively for them in their respective constituencies.
The Vice-President, who wrapped up the rally with an address to the supporters, reiterated his call against complacency and the need for the party followers to conduct themselves peacefully.
He charged the party supporters in the region to be apostles of President John Mahama’s good works to secure an impressive performance of votes from the region.