NDC Followed Due Process In Selecting Mahama - NDC

he National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) followed due process in selecting President John Dramani Mahama as it flag bearer pending the endorsement by Congress.

The party’s Propaganda Secretary, Mr Richard Quarshigah told graphic.com.gh that contrary to the assertions of the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Martin Amidu, that the party members had been left with no choice  to choose from in the selection of a flag bearer, the NEC fulfilled its mandate as spelt out in Article 50 of the party’s constitution.

The NEC, he stated had not imposed Mr Mahama on the party since the NDC constitution in Article 2... clearly indicated that when the party has a sitting President, he or she became the party leader.

The NDC’s flagbearer slot became vacant after its flagbearer and then sitting President John Evans Atta Mills untimely died on July 24, 2012.

He noted per Article 44 of the party’s constitution that the NDC had two years to elect a flag bearer when in opposition and a year when in power but considering the situation the party found itself, it could not wait for 12 months to elect a new flag bearer after the demise of President Mills.

He said by extension, if President Mills had become a leader of the party per his elevation as President and considering the fact that the party has not made any provision in the present situation, the party leadership was compelled to fall on Article 50 of the party constitution which gave the NEC residual powers  to come out with a regulations to address matters not provided for in the constitution.

“To do that, NEC met, deliberated on the matter and reached a concensus  to endorse President Mahama as the leader of the party to be endorsed by Congress on September 1, 2012.

He said that notwithstanding, President Mahama, the Propaganda Secretary stated would have to secure 50 per cent plus one of the required votes to become flagbearer.

“If we should go to congress and less than 50 per cent of the people are in favour of President Mahama leading the NDC into the 2012 elections, then he cannot become the flagbearer.

He discredited Mr Amidu’s notion that President Mahama was being imposed on the generality of Ghanaians saying all the other political parties had presidential candidates contesting the December elections hence the assertion was wrong.

On internal democracy, bothering on Article 75 of the 1992 constitution, Mr  Quarshigah stated the party had met that requirement  in the form of the upcoming congress where President Mahama would be endorsed or otherwise  as a flag bearer.

He said Mr Amidu barrage of accusations appeared as though he was either using an outdated party constitution or was not abreast with what is happening in the NDC.

He said there were a lot more voices in the NDC apart from  Mr Amidu but the actions  of the  former Attorney General suggested that he was a man who is not working in the interest of the party.

He said for a lawyer who believed in due process, Mr Amidu t would have seen it apt to lodge his disagreement  with the Complaint and Grievances  Committee of the party instead but instead  found  solace  in going on radio and issuing press statements .

“It appears, Mr Martin Amidu has lost track of some of the issues and by his actions has become the enemy of the party.”

He said the party had not got the luxury of time to open nominations, allow people to campaign for at least a month before allowing them to file their nominations.

“If you open nominations, you cannot short change those conventions, if you do that, people can even take legal action against you.”
 

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