Primary NDC: Nurudeen and Goosie not eligible – Ofosu Ampofo

General News of Saturday, February 23, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-02-23

Nurudeen Iddrisu and Goosie Tanoh, two presidential candidates for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will not be able to vote in today's elections.

Indeed, they do not meet the eligibility criteria of the party.

Party President Samuel Ofosu Ampofo told the media that the two can not vote because they have never held an official position in the party guaranteeing them the status of delegate.

"One should have served as a member of the executive branch, constituency or region; or served in the previous NDC government as a minister of state, DCE, MP or ambbadador. If you do not belong to any of the categories, you can not vote. So, they do not have the right to vote, "said Ofoso Ampofo.

So far, the remaining five candidates have voted in their respective polling stations.

Joshua Alabi could not find his name in the party's voter register, but was later allowed to vote.

Professor Alabi arrived at the Krowor polling station with great enthusiasm, but he was stopped in his steps by the initial team.

But after consulting some officials, the issue was resolved and the presidential hopeful was allowed to vote.

EC officials refused to give details of what led to the omission of Professor Alabi's name from the register.

After finally voting, Professor Alabi expressed his relief to the media.

"I'm glad we crossed the system and corrected it. [the ommission] and I voted, "he said.

The National Democratic Congress (NEC) is holding its presidential primaries today to elect a presidential candidate to represent the party in the 2020 general election.

Elections take place in all constituencies of the country under the control of the Electoral Commission.

The seven contenders for the presidential candidacy are former president John Dramani Mahama, the second vice speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin; former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Joshua Alabi, former Executive Director of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr. Sylvester Mensah, former Trade Minister, Ekwow Spio Garbrah , businessman, Nurudeen Iddrisu and the pillar of the NDC, Goosie Tanoh.

Nearly 280,000 NDC delegates are expected to vote in the polls.