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Politics of Monday, 11 April 2016

Source: classfmonline.com

I‘m being pushed to go solo – Ursula's rival

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

A former chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ablekuma West constituency, Theophilus Tetteh, has stated that he has not taken a decision to contest as an independent parliamentary candidate following his party’s election of Ursula Owusu-Ekuful as its choice to retain the seat in November’s legislative poll.

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, polled 554 votes to beat her only competitor, Roni Kwesi Nicol, who managed 317. But the election was notable for the absence of Mr Tetteh, who was once aide to the late MP for the same constituency, Theresa Amerley Tagoe. He withdrew at the eleventh hour to protest the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) decision to okay the use of two registers in the primary.

He had argued that NEC was planning to give the MP an advantage by approving the use of an alternative album, which he claimed contained names of voters affiliated to the MP, but who were non-constituents, alongside what was considered the official register.

Mr Tetteh, speaking on Accra100.5fm’s Ghana Yensom, on Monday April 11, said he had petitioned NEC to annul Saturday’s election and have it re-run.

Asked by programme host Chief Jerry Forson if he was contemplating going solo, should NEC dismiss his appeal, Mr Tetteh stated: “It’s not an ambition I am nursing. There’s been a call on me by some people to take that action. I am not going to get up and all of a sudden take a decision.”

He said though some important figures in the constituency, including chiefs, want him to run as an independent candidate, he wanted to hear from NEC and consult widely before taking a decision on his political future.

“As I speak with you, I have consulted a number of traditional leaders. They even moved to me, and they are pushing that ‘Come on, enough is enough. We want a representation in the person we want, not somebody who will find a means of getting us some representation. For that matter, avail yourself and let’s take a final decision between you and whoever is there,’” he added.

“But in all these, I still need to do broad consultation.” He promised that he would make known his decision at the right time to the general public.