It may be more than a year before voting begins, but incumbent President John Dramani Mahama has begun the campaign for his re-election in 2016 as his branded pickups pop up in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.

The outlandish campaign in the traditional stronghold of the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), targeting one million votes, has raised eyebrows as it captures the attention of residents.

With the inscription: “Operation one million votes from Ashanti Region – victory for 2016” and bearing a large portrait of President Mahama and the NDC’s umbrella symbol, the campaign banners have not only announced his re-election bid, but have also set tongues wagging.

People have begun questioning the President’s priorities and predisposition towards the country, as he attempts peaking ahead of time while he remains the incumbent president of the country.

President Mahama announced the operation one million votes in the Ashanti Region last years, forcing regional executive members to adopt it as their target in the 2016 general elections.

NDC Ashanti Regional Secretary, Raymond Tandoh, said the branded campaign pick-ups were meant to create awareness of their target for all members of the party to work towards it.

He told DAILY GUIDE that one Tony Yakubu, the party’s Communication Officer for the Asewase Constituency, initiated the move which had received the support of the regional executive members.

“We have a strong target to meet, and therefore ought to make it known as early as possible for all our supporters and members to work towards it,” Mr Tandoh stressed.

According to him, the Acting Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, had amicably resolved the recent wrangling in the party all in the name of the operation one million votes.

He said the NDC is poised for action to work hard for the re-election of President Mahama.