Expand NDC Electoral College

A GROUP of National Democratic Congress youth, Northern Friends of Spio Gabrah, have suggested to the party’s national executive committee to expand the Electoral College of the party before it goes for the July 2011 delegates’ congress.

According to the group, an expansion would bring more people on board to select the party’s flag-bearer and be responsible for marketing him or her for victory in 2012.

According to the Northern Friends of Spio Gabrah, the current

composition of the party’s Electoral College could easily be manipulated and influenced by any aspiring presidential candidate, since the number was small and money and sweet promises could be used to buy the conscience of these delegates.

The Secretary of the Northern Friends of Spio Gabrah, Mohammed Mubarik, raised these concerns at a brief news conference held in Tamale at the same time President Mills commenced his four-day working tour of the Northern region.

‘If the Electoral College is expanded widely to include even the

polling agents and foot-soldiers in the selection of a flag-bearer at the forthcoming delegate’s congress, it will make the exercise free, fair and transparent, devoid of mass influence and manipulation. As far as it is practicable, we expect the leadership of the NDC to expand the Electoral College to include all others who are legible to participate in the election of a flag-bearer.

This could help the party to check and stop vote buying and influencing delegates either by money or material wealth in pursuit of a particular candidate. I will like to warn that any attempt to ignore this suggestion could create more confusion in the National Democratic Congress, because people will begin to feel that the party does not cherish fairness and transparency and this could affect our fortune in the 2012 General Elections,’ Northern Friends of Spio Gabrah explained.

The group also noted that ‘there is a worrying issue in our great party, and as a matter of urgency, we will like to call on the party’s leadership to address it,’ pointing out that the issue had to do with the rift between the founder of the NDC and President Mills.

They explained that ‘If the two great men of our party reconcile, victory for the NDC is very possible and will be easy. After all, former President Rawlings was very instrumental in the NDC’s 2008 victory. It will be very difficult for the NDC to win the 2012 general elections without former President Jerry John Rawlings’, advising that ‘elders must do all they can to reconcile him and President Mills.’

From Stephen Zoure And Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Tamale