Hudu Yahaya: I will contest for NDC Chairmanship

After failing early this year to confirm or deny reports that he is eyeing the National Chairman post of the National Democratic Congress, shrewd Northern politician and vice Chairman of the ruling party, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, has confirmed to The aL-hAJJ plans to stake claim to the coveted post when nomination opens later this year.

According to astute political strategist who once steered the affairs of the NDC as General Secretary, his decision to add to the number of party stalwarts vying for the post is to strengthen the party and positioned it not only for winning the 2016 elections but future elections.

In an exclusive interview with The aL-hAJJ, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, who in May this year was evasive on whether he will challenge incumbent Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei, stated that he has firmed up on plans to avail himself for the task. “I’ve concluded consultations and I can now confirm to you that I’ll put myself up for election when nominations open later this year. I don’t want to get into the details for now because I’m traveling to Kumasi for constituency conference…let’s discuss this when I return,” he stated.

Early this year when The aL-hAJJ caught up with the NDC kingpin who is also a legal practitioner on the same subject, he stated while giggling that “I’m a vice Chairman of the party, a member of the National Executive and member of the constitution review committee of the party…I’m working to restructure the party and I don’t think I should be preoccupied with such intentions now.”

Ask whether he will seek re-election as national vice chairman when the party opens nomination later this year or early next year, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya in a droll tone noted “let’s live that one for now…we can talk about it at the right time. For now, I’m working as national vice chairman so let’s wait when the right time comes, we’ll talk about it.”

Alhaji Hudu Yahaya’s entrance into the race ups the number of party kingpins lacing their boots for the National Chairman post to four. So far, incumbent National Chairman Dr Kwabena Adjei; a vice Chairman and National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization, Mr Kofi Poturphy and former Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Dan Abodakpi have all made known their desire for the same.

Indeed, apart from Dr Kwabena Adjei, Mr Portuphy and Ambassador Dan Abodakpi have all launched their campaign with promises to strengthen the party at the grass root and retain the party in power come 2016. While the incumbent Chairman is yet to launch his third-time bid, his posters are all over town.

While political pundits say the national chairmanship contest is likely to be a two horse race between incumbent Dr Kwabena Adjei and NADMO boss Kofi Portuphy, the entry of Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, some analysts have observed, is likely to bring a new perspective to the race.

The new entrant is believed to be wielding enormous political clout in the ruling party, especially in the three Northern regions, that victory for anyone of the aspirants at the congress won’t come as a surprise. What makes this year’s National Chairman Contest of the ruling party exceptional from the previous contest is that the incumbent Chairman is facing stiff challenge from two of his deputies who have worked with him closely to secure victory for the party in the last two presidential elections.

As to whether Mr Portuphy or Alhaji Hudu Yahaya can supplant their boss, only the outcome of the upcoming national delegates’ congress of the NDC will determine.