We gave power to the NPP; they didn't win it – Prof Alabi

The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, (UPSA) and former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Professor Joshua Alabi, has identified lack of unity in the party as the major reason for the unprecedented defeat it suffered in the 2016 elections.

According to Professor Alabi, leadership of the party was aware of the situation but never expected it to cause their defeat.

"They were telling us, we were not listening and we weren't expecting them to announce it so seriously at the polls,” he said in an interview with Gifty Andoh Appiah on Joy News, Friday.

Explaining further, the former NDC MP for Krowor said, the 2016 defeat was self-inflicted, and opined that the NDC should have involved it's grassroots in decision making.

“We gave power to the NPP. They didn't win it. Our people simply decided not come out to vote. It was a strong protest", Prof Alabi said.

But he was quick to add that the party is working around the clock to ensure such suicidal mistakes don’t repeat itself in the 2020 elections.

When asked what he plans doing to avoid the mistakes, he answered that he would ensure that all the party elders who were abandoned in the past are brought onboard the 2020 campaign, including colleague Presidential hopefuls.

“We are working on it. We need to put the party at the heart of government business. We must let our people own the efforts and successes of our government. We must involve them in the decision making process.

“I will get former President Rawlings to campaign. I will get former President Mahama to campaign. I will get all the aspirants to campaign. In fact, I'll get everybody to campaign and I will personally lead the campaign. We will move like bees. We will cover the whole country, and we will win 2020”, he concluded.



Prof Alabi was convinced that the presence and involvement of every past and current leading member of the party will cause protesting executives and the grassroots to forgive and re-energized to recapture power.

"With this plan, there will be no breathing space for the NPP in 2020. Mark my words,” an upbeat Prof Joshua Alabi emphatically said.