The founder of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga has refuted assertions that he instigated some members of his former party, People’s National Convention (PNC), to demand the resignation of their flag bearer Dr Edward Mahama.

He said although he has always known Dr Mahama to be someone who sleeps on the job, he had nothing to do with the recent calls for his resignation over his alleged dormancy as flag bearer.

Some regional chairpersons of the PNC, including the Greater Accra regional Chairman, Bala Maekanka, have demanded the resignation of Dr Mahama, arguing that the flag bearer cared more about his personal business and profession than the larger party interest.

But, Mr Ayariga in an interview with Class News’ Paa Kwesi Parker-Wilson denied having a hand in the problems confronting the PNC.

“I have never even thought of the PNC in my campaign. I came from the PNC and I never want to see the PNC die even though we are all contesting [in the same] election. I wish to see them survive so that one day when I am running and I need support I can equally bring them onboard to support my party. Don’t forget even as I run the APC, there are many people who have helped the PNC that have joined the APC so if they are having problems they can still come and join us”.

Mr Ayariga noted that he always knew that Dr Mahama would sleep on the job but the PNC did not believe him.

“I am sure the PNC have realised their mistakes over the years because when I said Edward Mahama was not capable of managing the party and that he was sleeping on the job, they didn’t trust me. Now that they have seen change, they now know who is sleeping on the job. When you don’t change, you don’t see who is working. When they voted me, I was working when they were sleeping on the job. Now that they have found a candidate they want, they want to work but the presidential candidate is now sleeping on the job so it is what they bargained for, they should take it like that. We are working very hard and the difference is there for everybody to know. I am a committed leader, APC members are committed, we are united and we are moving on. If they think that their leader is sleeping on the job, they should try and sit with him and motivate him but they should know that he is already a tired man at 72 or 70, what do you expect?” he stated.