THE First Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for the Ellembele Constituency, Hon. Freddie Blay has advised the leadership of the Convention People's Party (CPP) to abandon the idea of winning this year's Presidential election.

He said the party should rather focus on winning more parliamentary seats rather than winning the Presidential election. Hon. Freddie Blay, who was addressing delegates of the party after emerging winner in the Ellembele primary, held last week Saturday, told the gathering that it would take the divine intervention of God for CPP to win the December elections. We should focus on winning more parliamentary seats, which is why I am focusing on my parliamentary seat', he said

Freddie Blay told the gathering that his overwhelming victory was an indication that he had the support of the party. 'I know that I stand firm in the interest of Ellembele and believe that the people will vote for the CPP for us to beat the NDC candidate.

The First Deputy Speaker also called on politicians never to regard this year's elections as a matter of life and death. This is because Ghana is bigger than any Presidential candidate yearning to secure the mandate of Ghanaians.

Blay's pronouncements, however, incurred the displeasure of his opponent in the primary, Burumia Twum, who accused him of attempting to do 'Skirt and blouse' campaign. Burumia, who lost heavily to the First Deputy Speaker said the decision by Blay to adopt the popular NPP kangaroo dance was clear evidence that he would engage in 'skirt and blouse' campaigning.

'The kangaroo dance, which is used by the NPP and was done by Freddie Blay during his victory celebration, is a sign that he would campaign 'skirt and blouse', Twum told The Chronicle soon after the primary election.

The defeated parliamentary aspirant, who had protested about the list of the delegates register used for voting, warned Blay and the executives of the party that he would campaign against Freddie Blay, if he dared campaign 'skirt and blouse' as he is fond of doing.

Brumia Twum said he was aware that Freddie Blay and his people had threatened to campaign and vote on 'skirt and blouse' basis if he (Twum) had won the primary.

When asked by this reporter what might have informed his suspicion that Freddie would engage in 'skirt and blouse' campaign, Nana Burumia Twum responded thus- 'this has been the trademark of Freddie Blay and I am warning him that if he dares do that, I will also campaign against him”. Source: Alfred Adam, Essiama - Ghanaian Chronicle