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Politics of Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Source: The Republic

Uncertainty hangs over Deputy NDC Youth Organizer Position

There is a growing unrest in the youth front of the ruling National Democratic Congress as uncertainties deepen around the unresolved results of the Second Deputy National Youth Organiser position of the, the Republic Newspaper can confirm.

The party’s Council of Elders and Legal Committee frantically trying to settle the impasse between the incumbent James Kofi Fonu Kpatakpa and Abigail Elorm Mensah aside the First Deputy Organizer, Koby Barlon, who were the clear front-runners of the election held more than one month ago (December 6, 2014).

The disagreement has left the ruling party without a substantial second deputy youth organiser several weeks after it had concluded all election for its national executives.

The Republic newspaper has gathered that the two feuding parties have had their time to meet the NDC’s legal committee and Council of Elders who pleaded with them to be patient as the party tries to resolve the embarrassing impasse.

Information picked up indicates that the party may resort to a re-run of that particular election as a last resort. There are reports that James Fonu is refusing to accept pressures for him to back down for Ms Mensah in a gender balance arrangement, with the party having voted a male as its substantive National Youth Organiser- Abubarkar Sidii.

Abigail Mensah is being tipped as the best option of the party in a deputy youth organiser, given her younger age comparative to James Fonu and her eloquence, a quality that party supporters say will endear her to the youth and mobilize them for the 2016 general elections.

The two are said to have submitted official complaints to the party’s decision-making bodies, and according to the NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia (a.k.a General Mosquito), the party is “looking into it”.

If the disagreement is not resolved, there are indications that the feuding parties may resort to the Courts to seek legal redress.

The Saturday, December 6 delegates’ congress was marred by confusion when preliminary vote counting saw Abigail Mensah causing an upset as she was in the clear led over the incumbent James Fonu.

However, Mr Fonu Kpatakpa protested and called for a recount, during the recount, the lights in the collation centre curiously went off, when it was restored and the results of the recount was announced by collation officers of both the candidates, the votes had dramatically turned in favour of Mr. Fonu.

The ensuing confusion saw serious rancor brew between supporters of the two candidates. The Electoral Commission refused to declare the results due its controversial nature and the ensuing confusion saw the EC official being whisked away by the Police amidst threats.

The two are locked up in a brutal tussle as they are both refusing to yield to the other. For Ms Mensah, she is the legitimate winner, but James Fonu is trying to cow her with his incumbency.

“It is rather unfortunate that the results were not declared due to the concerns raised with some of the figures. I however remain focused and determined to ensure that the actual verdict of the people which was undoubtedly in my favour is respected,” she vowed in a statement issued immediately after the elections.

“I want to urge my teeming supporters and agitated delegates to remain calm whiles I pursue justice in this issue. I am resilient and determined to fight for Justice not because it is a must for me to be the deputy national youth organizer but because we must protect the spirit and the ideas on which the NDC was established,” she promised.