NDC Primaries: No room for unfair advantage – Elections Director

The Elections Director of the opposition NDC has refuted claims that there may be an unfair advantage for some aspirants ahead of Saturday’s parliamentary primaries.

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah told Joy FM’s Top Story Friday that the party has taken steps to ensure that the conduct of the elections; before, during and after is devoid of any form of misdemeanour.

According to him, no name can be added to the party’s voters’ register at any constituency without the express consent of all the aspirants in that constituency.

Also, he said counting of the ballot papers will be done at the polling station so the aspirants and their supporters can go and witness for themselves.

“Security is entirely in the hands of the Ghana Police” Ankrah added, stressing that there can be no unfair advantage in the polls.

How many aspirants are there?

524 aspirants are gunning to become parliamentary candidates of the NDC across 157 constituencies.

Five constituencies have been put on hold pending the outcome of some hitches and the elections are not taking place in constituencies where the sitting MP is unopposed, General Secretary of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said at a press beefing. Predictions

Pollster Ben Ephson has predicted defeat Ningo-Prampram MP Sam George in the primaries.

He also says new entrant, former Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur who is contesting the Adentan seat, will not win.

Speaking in an interview with 3FM, Mr. Ephson said controversies in the respective constituencies of the two will go against them, causing their defeat.

He explained that bad blood between Lithur and her former deputy, Rachel Appoh, gives her [Lithur] contender, Abu Ramadan, a better chance in the Adentan primaries.

“I will be surprised if Nana Oye wins…given the way Nana Oye is going about it and Ramadan, learning a few things,” he shared.

Rachel Appoh accused Nana Oye Lithur of ill-treating her as her deputy and making her work from the reception for almost a year.

In the case of Sam George, Mr. Ephson noted that the former MP for Ningo Prampram, ET Mensah, would be the major factor to affect his chances.

“Things have built up and it is very difficult for him. Last time he was an underdog, this time if Sam George wins, I will be surprised.

“He’s done very well but this time the odds are against him. ET, love him or hate him, is a factor in Ningo Prampram,” he commented.