The second deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin believes the defeat which befell the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 elections was a blessing in disguise.

According to him, although the loss was painful it serves as a “useful lesson” to the party.

Bagbin, who is the MP for Nadowli-Kaleo, was quite vocal in questioning the leadership style of former president John Mahama. However, he said his actions were in good faith to forestall defeat.

Speaking about the defeat, Bagbin opined a lot of the party elders have regretted parrying his criticism of Mahama following the overwhelming defeat.

“I think it is a useful lesson that we have learnt as a party and many of the elders and senior members of the party come to say that if they had listened to my early signal about the way things were going we might not have been in opposition,” the longest-serving lawmaker in Ghana’s Parliament said.

“So, I am happy that they saw belatedly that what I did was for the benefit of all not just me and so I feel vindicated.

“It is not just me but many that have felt so and I have said it publicly at party meetings and even on radio. Many have come out to say that if they had listened to honorable Bagbin things would not have gone the way they went in the 2016 elections,” Bagbin told Accra-based Citi FM.

President Akufo-Addo garnered 5, 716, 609 votes, representing 53.84 percent to snatch the presidency from former president John Mahama who secured 4,713,277 votes, representing 44.40 percent.

The NDC also lost more than 40 parliamentary seats to the NPP, which gave the latter majority in Parliament. Akufo-Addo won the election after a third term bid.