Filing fee petition: I’ve not betrayed my colleagues – Alabi

One of the Flagbearer hopefuls of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Prof. Joshua Alabi says he has not betrayed his other contenders who are fighting en-bloc for the leadership of the party to reduce the filing fee.

“I’m among those who are calling for a reduction of the filing fee because it's outrageous. I only declined not to append my signature to the resolution they tabled before the Elders because of the aspect of the threats they issued in the petition. In the first place we are all contesting individually and so if we’re embarking on an action of that sort, we should all agree unanimously on a plan. If we have come up with a petition and there’s some aspect that needed to be changed, that should be considered. I have not betrayed them as it might seem because I wasn’t a signatory to the petition although I support their course. If I had signed it and went ahead to pick the form then that will mean a betrayal to the others.” he told host Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM Tuesday.

Professor Joshua Alabi has said he’s been able to raise the GHC400,000 filing fee to enable him to contest in the upcoming presidential primaries of the of the National Democratic Congress.

“I don’t have that kind of money but I’ve had massive support from well-wishers and the grassroots,” he added.

Alabi will pick up his nomination forms today in his bid to lead the NDC into the 2020 election despite a petition to the party Council of Elders to reduce the filing fee.

Barring any last minute changes the two-day window for aspirants to pick the forms will close today with only ex-President John Mahama so far having his forms picked up for him by some of his supporters in the Asawase constituency of the Ashanti Region on Monday.

The petition to the NDC Council of Elders by 8 of the Presidential aspirants is yet to receive response making it unknown if there’ll be a change in the GCH420,000 being charged for the nomination and filing fees.

But Alabi said he ought to seal his inclusion in the contest while he fights alongside for the excessive fee to be reduced.