Osa Director, national publicity secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that some aspirants dissatisfied with the party’s primary elections were sponsored by opposition politicians.
Director spoke on Thursday, during ‘Prime Time’ on Arise Television, where he responded to concerns over candidate selection and internal disagreements that have trailed the party’s primaries since late May.
According to him, the NDC’s challenges should be viewed in the context of its recent formation.
“Don’t forget the fact that, without being apologetic about it, we are just barely three months old,” he said.
“So we must have those challenges. We would not expect a three-month-old baby to run or walk the way a 10-year-old baby is going to walk.”
Director said the party has undergone a series of processes, including registration, compilation of a digital register, congresses at various levels, a national convention and primary elections within a short period.
He also pointed to challenges associated with direct primaries, arguing that the provisions of the Electoral Act have created difficulties for political parties.
“Now, how do you know that these people you said should go and vote are all members of that party? We have seen arithmetic voodooism by some other parties,” he said.
The NDC spokesperson said the party is ready to address challenges arising from the primaries, adding that while not everyone would be satisfied, the majority of members would be.
He further alleged that some individuals criticising the party did not genuinely belong to the NDC and claimed that political opponents were attempting to create divisions within the party.
“Don’t also forget that even the ruling party will have a way, a formula, to kind of cause division within the NDC,” he said.
Director claimed that in one state, a serving member of the house of representatives sponsored five aspirants to purchase nomination forms in an attempt to influence the party’s candidate selection process.
“I’m aware of a particular state where a serving house of representatives member sponsored five aspirants to come and pick the form,” he said.
“What is the game plan? They want to ensure that such people pick up the tickets and, before and during the election, become lukewarm in the pursuit of realising their aspirations, so that he, the incumbent, can get his seat back.”
He said the party identified and removed some of the individuals involved but acknowledged that others may still be lurking in the shadows.
He, however, noted that the NDC recognises that some complaints are legitimate and is working to address them.
“Like I said, we are determined to resolve all the grievances. Left to us, we don’t want a single member of our party to leave on account of not being treated well,” he said.
“As I’m speaking, stakeholders of some states are in meetings to ensure that they resolve all these grievances. And we are resolving lots of them.”