Bernard Allotey Jacobs, former Central Region Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that there is always an establishment candidate for the party's presidential nomination in a party that is in power.
He stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) establishment candidate is Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Allotey Jacobs, commenting on the NPP's super delegates conference held on Saturday, August 26th, stated, "In every political election, when it comes to the presidential nomination, and particularly when a party is in power, there is a 'establishment' candidate.
"When a party is in office, there is always an establishment candidate because there must be continuity. This is the challenge faced by some political parties; they are unable to produce successive candidates. However, when an establishment candidate becomes a connection between the party and government, he or she will be well-established on the ground, and people will demand his leadership. This is precisely the situation with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia."
Dr. Bawumia received 629 ballots (68.15%) on Saturday, August 26. Kennedy Agyapong and Alan Kyerematen received 132 votes (14.3%) and 95 votes (10.29%), respectively.
Dr. Afriyie Akoto, former Minister of Agriculture, placed fourth.
Francis Addai-Nimoh and Mr. Boakye Agyarko each received 9 votes, culminating in a run-off to determine the fifth-place finisher.
Following this outcome, the Ashanti Region Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), stated that if not for democracy and the NPP's constitution, Dr. Bawumia would have been proclaimed the presidential candidate without the November 4 main delegate conference.
He stated that the distance between Dr. Bawumia and second-placed Kennedy Agyapong was not close.
Cairman Wontumi told journalists in Accra on August 30: "If one candidate received 629 ballots, that is more than enough.
"Even the second-place finisher, Kennedy Agyapong, scored 132. 132 is not near to him, and he scored 95 in the third round. This election will continue in the name of democracy and our constitution, despite the fact that the race is not close.
"If this is not done in the name of democracy, it is a done deal."