The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has from today Thursday, August 27, opened nominations for the party's primaries.
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Some old and new faces of NDC MP aspirants likely to fall
Top guns of the NDC are lacing their boots to pick nomination forms to contest the NDC primaries
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The NDC has scheduled November 07, 2015 for the presidential and parliamentary primaries.
Aspirants at the parliamentary level are expected to pick up their forms from the constituency offices.
Pulse.com.gh can confidently report that there is a tall list of incumbent and experienced Members of Parliament and even first timers, whose legislative dream will come to an end after the party’s impending primaries.
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At best, what is threatening to hit the current legislative front of the NDC could be described as tsunami, particularly if one considers how some constituencies are bent on carrying out their threats to supplant their MPs, most of who are veterans in the august House of parliament.
Pollster and managing editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson has predicted that some of the new faces will not make it to parliament even if they win the primaries.
Mr. Ephson stated that daughter of former President Jerry John Rawlings, Dr. Ezenator Rawlings and deputy communications minister, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, who are expected to contest for Korley Klottey and Ablekuma North respectively, would not win if they pass through the primaries.The pollster noted that Ablekuma North is a stronghold of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) with a huge gap; hence, it would be difficult for any NDC candidate to win the seat.
Speaking on Kasapa FM, Mr. Ephson stated that the NPP has always won the Ablekuma North; hence, the best Mr. Kwakye could do is to only increase the presidential votes in the constituency.
According to him, the deputy minister can win the parliamentary primary but has no chance at the national election that will take him to parliament, adding that, that was why Ras Mubarak moved to the Northern region to contest.
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On Dr. Rawlings, Mr. Ephson said her father did some things in the past which are likely to haunt her if former President Rawlings actively campaigns for her.
He added that Dr. Rawlings could have gone for a safe seat in the Volta Region where she would have won easily but has chosen to go for Korley Klottey in the Greater Accra Region.
For the Dome Kwabenya seat, the pollster noted that former Information Minister, Zita Okaikoi cannot beat the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Adwoa Safo because “NPP will always have more votes than NDC there.”
He, however, said Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije has brighter chance of winning the Ablekuma South seat if he wins at the primary.
For the Adentan constituency, the pollster explained that it would be a keen contest between the incumbent MP, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore and former Municipal Chief Executive, Kakra Vanlare due to the rivalry between them.
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The Managing Editor added that the number of new faces is likely to increase from 20 to about 40 because more people are joining the race.
Among the potential casualties include the Western regional minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, who is expected to lose to an experience technocrat now with the Ministry of Education who is said to have gradually warmed his way into the hearts of party executives and delegates in the Sefwi Wiawso constituency.
Presidential staffer, Sam George who has declared his intention to contest for the Ningo-Prampram Parliamentary seat in the upcoming National Democratic Congress primaries has indicated that he is not afraid to contest incumbent E.T. Mensah.
The Member of Parliament has occupied the constituency seat since 1992 as no aspirant has been able to defeat him in neither the primaries nor the parliamentary elections.
Sam George is likely to lose to the sixth time MP.
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In the Central Tongu constituency, the former Roads and Highways Minister in the Mills government is facing serious rebellion from his constituents who claim his contribution to the development of the constituency is below average.
According to Joe Gidisu’s accusers, although he served as Roads and Highways minister for eight years, roads in the constituency are in a deplorable state.
Another veteran MP whose absence in the next parliament will shock many is deputy Majority leader, Alfred Kwame Agbesi. The incumbent Ashaiman MP, party insiders say, has given up on contesting the Ashaiman seat in 2016 and would seek refuge at South Tongu, where he will seek to replace the sitting MP, Kobla Woyome.
Other NDC MPs also expected to face stiff competition and/or, possibly be replaced are MPs for Agotime-Ziope, Juliana Azuma Mensah; Amenfi Central, George Kofi Arthur; Anlo, Kofi Humado; Ekumfi, Abeiku Crentsil; Ledzokuku, Benita Sena Okiti Duah; Ayawaso North, Dr Mustapha Ahmed and Central Tongu, among others.
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