Former vice President, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, could have an edge over Dr Botchwey, his challenger, in the contest for the flagbearership of the NDC.

As a former veep, Prof Mills qualifies to vote at the impending congress, the party’s constitution has provided. Atta Mills nearly lost that right when he had to resign his membership of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to contest.

Dr Botchwey, however, has no such voting right. He is not a member of the National Executive Committee; neither does his former ministerial position qualify him to vote at the congress. He would, therefore, have to rely solely on the support of delegates to make good his bid at the congress.

The constitution of the party is not clear as to whether a contestant has a voting right. Given the keenness of the competition, political pundits predict that the election results could be very close; in fact, “too close to call.” In what may also be described as a photo finish, Prof Mills’ single vote may make the difference- swinging the verdict in his favour, observers have further speculated.

Meanwhile, about 20 posters of Dr Kwesi Botchwey who is aspiring to lead the NDC to election in 2004 have been destroyed in Kumasi by unknown people. The posters were pasted at the NDC regional secretariat alongside his archrival, Mills.

Strangely enough, the posters of the former Finance minister started disappearing since 29 November. They have either been removed, destroyed or defaced over the last week and mostly replaced by that of Prof Atta Mills. Only posters of the former veep are seen at the premises on entering there.

People that The Ghanaian Chronicle spoke to during a visit expressed shock at the development since it was against the electoral law. Others blamed the destruction on anti-Botchwey groups in the NDC.