Politics of Thursday, 8 June 2017

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Disunity caused NDC's loss in election 2016 - Former Minister

Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu play videoAlhaji Mahama Iddrisu

A former minister of Defence under the Rawlings administration, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu has attributed the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) abysmal performance in the 2016 General elections to the disunity that has crept into the rank and file of the party.

Speaking at the NDC’s 25th-anniversary launch in Accra on Thursday, Aljhaji Idrissu stated that the embarrassing result the party had in the election that saw the New Patriotic Party’s candidate Nana Akufo-Addo topple the incumbent John Mahama was due to the disunity that exist in the party.

The former minister made a clarion on the youth of the party not to be discouraged by the party’s current situation but rather be united and help the party’s quest to wrestle power from the NPP in 2020.

He called on the party faithfuls to unite and work in unison as dictated by the party’s anthem. He said the party failed miserably in the elections because members of the party did not abide by the principles upon which the “Umbrella” party was established.

“We should not be discouraged but rather work together. Comrades, the words of our anthem says From victory unto victory the NDC shall lead in a stable democracy. Ghana our strength in unity".

"These are deep words that must be said with all seriousness. What happened to us in the last elections was due to our disunity”.

“We must unite and believe the words in our anthem and principles that guide this party. Let us unite and be guided by our past and we shall be secured in our forward match” he charged the “Akatamansonians”.

It will be recalled that the NDC historically loss the 2016 elections to the NPP. The NDC led by then President Mahama polled 44.40 percent of valid votes cast to lose comfortably to the NPP’s Akuffo-Addo who garnered 53.85 percent of valid votes cast.