The heat is on in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over who gets to battle the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) Ursula Owusu for the proposed Ablekuma West constituency seat.

Barring unforeseen hitches, three aspirants including Victoria Hamah, a former student leader and hostess of Multi TV’s ‘Chocolate Factory’ show, are gunning for the NDC slot.

Others are Diana Twum, a teacher and Prince Derick Adjei, a Deputy Coordinator at the National Youth Authority (NYA) and they would go into the primary which promises to be interesting today.

The constituency is being carved out of the existing Ablekuma South constituency, with the incumbent NDC MP and Minister of Information Fritz Baffour maintaining the old constituency.

Party insiders have suggested that the thrust of the primary is to elect a candidate who has what it takes to face Ursula Owusu, the NPP’s candidate, in the upcoming December 7 elections.

Though some have suggested that the contest would be a straight fight between Victoria Hamah and Diana Twum, others have equally suggested the possibility of it being between the former student activist and Derek Adjei who seems to have waged an aggressive media campaign.

However, the articulate Victoria, who has a strong public image as a women’s rights activist, appears to be more favoured by party activists and big wigs, according to DAILY GUIDE sources.

She matches her political life with a media career that in part accounts for her public recognition, having been co-hostess of the popular ‘Real Talk’ show on TV3 and now hostess of ‘Chocolate Factory’ on Cine Afrik on Multi TV – a talk show that is touted to address the psychological, emotional and the general conditions that underscore relationships.

Whilst Victoria prides herself as the Executive Director of the Progressive Organization for Women’s Advancement (POWA), a civil society organization that works with networks of public spirited citizens dedicated to the protection of women’s rights and promotion of social justice, her colleague Diana also touts her credentials as an astute organiser of the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM), with Derek Adjei banking his hopes on his influence in government.

Despite concerns about his private life, Derek Adjei, who defected from the moribund Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), may pull a surprise if he is to overcome growing anger against his candidature in the constituency.

He is seen as a defector who is benefiting from the sweat of true party loyalists.

Some residents of the constituency have however indicated that no matter who emerges as the party’s candidate today, the seat would fall to the opposition NPP.

This is in view of the fact that there is a cross-party consensus that Ursula Owusu is best suited to represent one of the most cosmopolitan constituencies in the capital.

Many believe Ursula Owusu, a staunch critic of the ruling party, is the main target of the controversial demarcation in the Greater Accra region.

Questions have been asked about the hasty manner in which the Afari-Gyan-led Electoral Commission (EC) is carrying out the demarcations of the new constituencies.

Recently, the EC had to withdraw an earlier Constitutional Instrument it put before Parliament, admitting serious errors and breaches.

This has prompted public concerns about the motive of the EC in creating these 45 constituencies in addition to the existing 230 seats in Parliament.