In a statement some described as comic, Former President John Dramani Mahama has declared his endorsement for Stephen Atubiga, to lead the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 elections.
“Atubiga is even my favourite Presidential candidate,” Mahama said at a Unity Walk in Cape Coast in the Central Region.
Mr. Atubiga, a member of the NDC communication team, gained some level of prominence when he was jailed by the Supreme Court for contempt during the 2012 election petition case.
He has been vocal on facebook with his intention to contest for the NDC flagbearership though many have rubbished his chances of making it against the bigwigs.
Atubiga in 2015 contested in the NDC’s parliamentary primaries in Binduri constituency in the Upper East Region, but was unsuccessful.
Ex-President Mahama’s comment was seen as a distraction from his long-awaited declaration of interest in the flagbearership in which he is seen as a frontrunner against the likes of former Communications Minister, Ekow Spio-Garbrah, former University of Professional Studies (UPS) Vice Chancellor, Joshua Alabi. Nadowli-Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin, former NHIA boss, Slyvester Mensah, former MP for La-Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale among others.
John Mahama, however, hinted of his interest in leading the NDC again though not clear enough.
“I have no problem with any of my colleagues who has expressed interest in leading this great party. Let us not attack anyone because whoever is elected to lead us to victory 2020, will need the support of each and everyone.”
He recounted that, “Spio was my boss and later became my minister; Joshua was my colleague in Parliament and later became the Vice Chancellor of UPSA, Slyvester was the NHIS Boss and later a Presidential Staffer… It’s not now that they want to contest that I will have a problem with them….Let us all work in unity for victory 2020.”
The NDC will elect a flagbearer before the end of December 2018 to lead the party in the 2020 elections.
