Is it possible for two friends who are contesting for a political seat to maintain their friendship during and after the campaign? Over the weekend, John Dumelo announced his second coming for the seat of Ayawaso West Wuogon a few days after his bosom friend and colleague, Fred Nuamah, declared his intentions to contest for the same parliamentary seat in the upcoming NDC parliamentary primaries.
Political campaigns can be intense and emotional, and friends competing against each other may become overly invested in their campaigns resulting in heated arguments and disagreements. The campaign’s pressure and stress may cause one or both friends to act in ways that harm their friendship.
There have been several instances throughout history where friends have contested for the same political seat. During the American Revolution, the friendship of two founding fathers of the United States and close friends, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, was tried when they ran against each other for president in 1796. Adams narrowly won the election, and their rivalry lasted until their later years when they reconciled.
The political ramifications of Bill Clinton and Al Gore depict another side to this pickle. Their friendship was put to the test when they both ran for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1992. Despite the rivalry, Clinton and Gore maintained a close working relationship during their tenure in office.
Africa’s history also records similar cases like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, who remained good friends until Tambo died in 1993, despite Mandela’s win when they both contested for the presidency of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1991.
In Ghana, the Jinapor brothers are the closest political perplexity as each brother represents each of the two major political parties in the country.
But John Dumelo and Fred Nuamah are not brothers. These are two bosom friends who have made huge milestones as giants in the Entertainment industry.
In fact, Fred Nuamah served as the best man for John Dumelo’s wedding in May 2018.
Ultimately, whether a political campaign will break up a friendship depends on the individuals involved and the specific circumstances of the campaign.
May the best man win come May 13!