Contesting Nana Addo did cause my defeat – Addai-Nimo

Member of Parliament for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimo, has dismissed suggestions that his contest with Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the flagbearership position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), cost his defeat at the party’s parliamentary polls held on Saturday, June 13.

Mr. Addai-Nimo had sought to lead the people of Mampong by seeking for re-election in the party’s parliamentary primaries but lost to Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong. He polled 207 votes as against Mr. Sarpong’s 232 votes.

Prior to that, he had contested for the flagbearership race of the elephant family but lost to Nana Akufo-Addo in a contest many political pundits applauded him for the votes garnered.

His loss in the parliamentary polls has largely been attributed to his contest with the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Many political pundits believe that Mr. Addai-Nimo incurred the wrath of the delegates for competing with their idol who they believe is the right candidate to lead the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition to victory in the 2016 general elections.

However, Mr. Addai-Nimoh told Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Si Me So on Kasapa 102.3 FM that such suggestions are baseless and unfounded since there is no evidence to prove that.

He said till date he has been able to unravel what actually cost his defeat, noting that “maybe as the days go by, one day the reason for my loss will be known.”

“I don’t believe that contesting Nana Akufo-Addo cost my defeat in parliamentary primary. It is very difficult for me to point that this is the main reason why I lost,” he noted.

Mr. Addai-Nimoh, an engineer by profession to Owusu Adjei that he entered into the flagbearership contest with Nana Addo and Alan Kyeremateng believing that his potentials was going to win him the people's mandate after campaigning vigorously on that.

“I thought the potential I brought on board was going to win me the flagbearership race. Sometimes you use your potential to reach a certain height but sometimes too pedigree also helps. But that doesn’t mean that the one who has pedigree has no potential and vice versa.

“I have pedigree but during the election I campaigned more on the potential that I have. But some of the delegates told me that yes you have a good campaign message but we think that the time is not ripe for you. Others too asked where were you all these while which means that the potential that I brought was well appreciated by some of the delegates, but their belief was that the timing was not good for me.”