The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Hassan Ayariga, has warned party delegates against electing Dr. Edward Nasigri Mahama as the flagbearer for the 2016 elections.

According to him, Dr Mahama by his conduct in the run-up to the 2012 elections glaringly showed that his commitment to the party had waned considerably.

The PNC is expected to go to Congress late November to elect its Presidential Candidate for the 2016 elections and other executive positions.

Already, party bigwigs including Hassan Ayariga, Michael Osei Bonsu, Dr. Edward Mahama, David Apasera have all picked nomination forms to contest the flagbearer position.

Dr Edward Mahama, who is a veteran when it comes to contesting the flagbearer position as he has previously run four times, is readying himself to compete once again.

He is expected to give Hassan Ayariga stiff opposition and possibly topple him.

But his declaration of intent to run again has not sat well with Mr Hassan Ayariga as he accused Dr Mahama of showing no interest in boosting the electoral fortunes of the PNC during the 2012 elections.

Speaking to Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM on Monday, Mr Ayariga said Dr Mahama is only returning to active party matters and want to lead the party in 2016 simply for personal gains.

“In the heat of the 2012 elections, we saw ex-President Kufuor campaigning on platforms for Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP, ex-President Rawlings also did his part to support President Mahama but Dr Edward Mahama was nowhere near the PNC campaigns.”

He recounted how he had to work extra hard and pump in resources to make the PNC become very attractive during the 2012 elections, which translated in a marked improvement in the party’s performance in that election.

“For the first time since the fourth republic, the PNC Presidential Candidate managed to beat the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), that showed how hard I worked.”