The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman in the Ellembelle Constituency of the Western Region, Hon. Alex Kwame Mahama popularly known as 'Acounty' has urged the teeming members of the party to rally behind former President John Mahama who has been re-elected as their presidential candidate to recapture political power from the NPP government in 2020 general elections.

The party held its presidential primaries on Saturday, February 23, 2019 in all the 275 constituencies across the country.

25,951 delegates voted in the NDC presidential primaries in the twenty-six constituencies in the Western Region.

At the keenly contested election held at the AYA Community Center, Ampain, former President John Mahama emerged victorious by polling 931 votes to beat his close contenders, Professor Joshua Alabi who polled 16 votes, Goosie Tanoh had 9 votes, ASK Bagbin who polled 2 votes, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah got 2 votes, Sylvester Mensah had 2 votes and Alhaji Nuruuden Iddrisu also secured 2 votes.

In all, 962 delegates voted for seven candidates that contested one vacant position in the primaries in the Ellembelle Constituency which was supervised by District Electoral Commission, Mr. Stephen Aidoo in the area.

The voting was very peaceful and the security presence was also very tight.

Speaking to GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent after the primaries, the Ellembelle NDC Chairman congratulated former President John Mahama for his resounding victory in the presidential primaries.

He, therefore, seized the opportunity and appealed to all NDC members to bury their differences and rally behind former President John Mahama to recapture the presidential seat for the party in 2020 general elections.

He also appealed to other six NDC presidential aspirants to rally behind former
President Mahama for victory 2020.

"It is my expectation that all other aspirants and their supporters will rally behind our new leader for a resounding victory in 2020", he pleaded.

The Chairman was very optimistic that former President Mahama will win the 2020 general elections massively to continue his "Changing Lives and Transforming Ghana" agenda.

He said former President Mahama's victory has rekindled the hope of all Ghanaians.

"There is no time for merry-making, the real job has started", he opined.

"Your overwhelming victory is also an indication of the trust and confidence the rank and file of the NDC have in your candidature and ability to give them victory and this can't be compromised", he told former President Mahama.

He pleaded with former President Mahama "I urge you to as a matter urgency to bring all party members under one umbrella and begin the journey towards recapturing power from this clueless and highly confused NPP government".

He said Mr Mahama's overwhelming victory has sent shivers down the spine of a non-performing government whose days in office are numbered.

He added that this victory is not a victory for former President John Mahama alone but a victory for all NDC members.

The NDC Chairman also assured former President John total support in the constituency to win massively in the general elections.

He stated that Ghanaians made a regrettable decision in handling political power in 2016 to the "Super Incompetent NPP government".

He noted that the NPP government has brought economic hardships on Ghanaians and said it is a time for Ghanaians to reconsider their decisions and elect former President John Mahama of which he believed that Mr John Mahama is the tested man who has a lot of developmental projects in the country.

On his part, the former Minister for Petroleum and MP for the area, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah said the experience of former President Mahama in politics has also been brought to bear, despite facing an internal challenge by other contestants.

The name recognition of former President Mahama in and outside of the NDC, he observed, has also been clearly spelt out as the most marketable politician in the country at this moment of our national life.

"His ability to unite the NDC family going into the 20-20 general elections, will be manifested as the party gears towards recapturing power to restore hope in the country", he said.

"His characteristic humility, decisively cultivated to learn from the past as an experienced leader, will equally play out as we face our opponents in the next general elections", he underscored.

For all NDC members across the country, he made a passionate appeal to them to rally behind Mahama, describing him as the winnable candidate.

He said they must galvanize their energies, resources and move into the 2020 general elections as a united party with the strongest, and formidable force ever, capable of wrestling power from the opponents of NDC now in government.

"For President John Dramani Mahama, I want to congratulate him profusely for the victory, and for accepting the challenge thrown at him by the other contestants"

He added "The outcome of this peaceful internal contest, obviously breaks the yolk for an external contest in 2020 which will become a litmus test for the unparalleled achievements recorded in government as a political party"