Former Central Region Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has said that there is always an establishment flagbearer candidate in a political party that is in power.
He stated that in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is currently the establishment candidate.
Commenting on the super delegates conference of the NPP that took place last Saturday, August 26, Allotey Jacobs said on Peace FM’s Kokorokoo Wednesday, August 30 that “In every political election, when it comes to flagbeareship, especially when a party is in power there is an ‘establishment’ candidate.
“There is always an establishment candidate when a party is in power because there should be continuity. That is the problem some political parties face, they are unable to build successive candidates but when that establishment candidate becomes a bridge between the party and government then that candidate is well established on the ground and so people will call for his leadership. That is precisely what has happened with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.”
After the polls last Saturday, August 26, Dr Bawumia swept 629 of the votes (68.15%) followed by Kennedy Agyapong and Alan Kyerematen with 132 votes (14.3%) and 95 votes (10.29%) respectively.
Former Agric Minister Dr Afriyie Akoto placed fourth.
Francis Addai-Nimoh and Mr Boakye Agyarko polled 9 votes each, resulting in a run-off between the two of them to determine who places 5th.
Following this result, the Ashanti Region Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), said that but for democracy and the constitution of the NPP, Dr Bawumia should be declared the presidential candidate without going for the main delegate conference on November 4.
He stated that the gap between Dr Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong, who placed second, was not close.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, August 30, Cairman Wontumi said “If one candidate had 629 votes, it is more than enough.
“Even the one we are calling second, Kennedy Agyapong, he got 132. 132 is not close to him and in the third one, he got 95. It is not close but because it is in the name of democracy and our constitution, that is why we are still going for this election.
“If it is not in the name of democracy, this one is a done deal.”