The Ashanti Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sam Pyne has laughed off plans by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to increase its number of parliamentary seats in the region to 13.
He disclosed that it can only be done if the party creates its own parliamentary seats and not what has been constitutionally done and is known to the country.
“They can win the 13 seats but that is if they create their own seats and contest them. But for the ones we know are constitutionally enshrined, I doubt if they can even win a single one in the region”, he told Kwame Adinkra on Abusua Nkomo.
The NDC claims it will increase its votes in the region to 1.5 million in the December polls.
The NDC has since 2008 increased its share of votes in the Ashanti Region – the stronghold of the NPP – winning 28% of votes cast in the 2012 elections, representing 611, 604.
But Mr Pyne in reaction to the NDC’s claims said they are only engaging in ‘Pluto’ dreams stating that the situation on ground does not in any way support their stance.
“The 600,000 votes they (NDC) obtained in 2012, they will not get that this year. If they get more than 300,000 [votes], that will be a miracle’
The NDC party a week ago, revised its target of ten constituency seats to thirteen with its 1 million votes agenda for the presidential elections scaled up to a 1.5 million vote for President John Dramani Mahama.
The ruling NDC currently has four parliamentary seats, namely: Ahafo Ano North, Sekyere Afram Plains, Asawase and New Edubiase with the opposition NPP still holding on to a majority of 43 parliamentary seats.
National communications Director of the NDC, Solomon Nkansah indicated that the party has gathered enough intelligence through its intelligence that the people of the Ashanti region are appreciative of what he described as massive developmental projects the NDC administration has implemented across the region.