Politics of Thursday, 9 June 2016

Source: aL-hAJJ

Apathy could affect NDC in November polls

Intelligence available to The aL-hAJJ has tossed up two things that could push the upcoming November elections into a 2nd round and possibly, end the rule of President John Dramani Mahama and his National Democratic Congress.

Weeks of comprehensive research by our political desk have unearthed high electricity tariffs and apathy on the part of NDC members as the two instruments that could send the party back to opposition in spite of the good works of President Mahama.

Notwithstanding his government’s impressive performance, particularly, in the provision of infrastructure and the re-direction of the country’s economy; the growing attrition and despondency among the rank and file of the NDC, the investigations revealed is steadily minimizing the otherwise, best chances of the Mahama government to retain power.

This has further been compounded by high electricity tariffs and taxes which even the ardent member or sympathizer of the ruling party has not been left out amongst those bitterly complaining.

Reports are that while some NDC members including Members of Parliaments, party gurus and officials and ordinary supporters are fuming over neglect, many of them are threatening not to turn up on voting day with others remaining indifferent. “Many of our people are angry. They may not vote at all in the election and this can push the election into a second round and eventually terminate our stay in power,” a worried NDC kingpin recently told The aL-hAJJ

A senior media practitioner with sympathies towards the NDC government told this paper that, the President and party’s woes have further been worsened by the astronomical hike in electricity tariffs and new taxes, “already these people are complaining that they are not being taking care of and now you are compounding their troubles with high electricity tariff and have also introduced new taxes...your own people are really angry with the government and if care is not taken, you may hand over power to the NPP on a silver platter.”

Another worrying development this paper has gathered is that, while the November 7 elections is only five months away, the NDC is yet to wholly resolve issues flowing from the party’s parliamentary primaries. Some of the constituencies including, Bongo, Ningo-Prampram, Klottey Korley, Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro and the President’s own constituency Bole Bamboi are among the ‘boiling’ constituencies.

Adding to the daily complaints of neglect, hardship and unemployment by party supporters, some NDC constituencies have problems of parliamentary candidates fighting with their constituency executives.

The above worrying trend is said to be threatening the party’s continued dominance and control of these parliamentary seats in the upcoming election and winning majority votes to boost the president’s dream of clinching a second term.

“Go to the various constituencies; even our strongholds…there is nothing happening there. All you see is backbiting among supporters of the parliamentary candidates and supporters of the constituency executives. The spirit of the NDC that won the last election has evaporated,” another leading member of the party stated.

“We have done extremely well in the area of infrastructure development but, unemployment and hardship which have further been worsened by these high light bills and taxes are the ones destroying our chances and something must be done or we sink,” he added.

A party insider recently disclosed to The aL-hAJJ that most of the high ranking NDC officials who have been the backbone of the party have all adopted a lukewarm attitude towards the November elections over claims of marginalization. Stay tuned