Supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Bantama in the Ashanti Region, have labeled the Member of Parliament for the area, Henry Kwabena Kokofu as a ”Judas” after he shocked everyone when he filed as an Independent candidate for the upcoming December election.

His nomination forms were submitted on his behalf to the Electoral Commission on Friday, September 30 which was deadline for filing of nominations, an act which has been described as ” a last minute surprise” by the constituents.

Hon. Kokofu, three months ago vehemently denied rumours that he was going to contest the 2016 Parliamentary election as an independent candidate after his posters emerged in parts of the constituency.

He told the public that he had no plans of contesting as an independent candidate and neither had he made any posters to signal that, he might contest, so people should disregard the arguments about him planning to contest as an independent candidate.

But just when supporters of the NPP were happy that the party was going into the impending crucial election as a united front, Hon. Kokofu for whatever motivation best known to him broke the hearts of many constituents by going independent.

“This is a real shocker, he’s more than ‘a Judas’. We didn’t have the slightest indication that he was going to go independent, this will obviously take away from the votes that the NPP candidate would have gotten on election day” Kwabena Dankwa, a constituent told Kasapafmonline.com.

Another said: “Hon. Kokofu who is a member of the party’s Communications team, whenever he goes on air preaches the need for unity in the NPP ahead of the election, but he has decided to do what will not inure to the benefit of the party.”

Hon. Kokofu lost to Daniel Okyem Aboagye in the party’s primary in June 2015, after polling 225, while his competitor Mr Aboagye polled 289 votes to be the NPP new Parliamentary candidate for the area.