NPP Presidential Race: Nana Tops… Alan Shocked, Apraku, Asabee Crash

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday dwarfed six other contenders in the Electoral College of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with a whopping 81.28%, leaving his closest rival Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, to manage a paltry 8.01%.

A significant feature of the results was Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, scoring zero in some regions but doing relatively well in the Volta Region, where he polled his highest with 14%—a far cry from Nana's 57.1%  in the region.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo polled a staggering 86 votes, representing 70.4 percent of valid votes cast in the Ashanti Region, to inflict a painful defeat to his closest rival, Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen, who managed just 17 votes, representing 13.9 percent of valid votes cast.

The important victory at the party's stronghold brightened the chances of Nana Akufo-Addo—who was the bookmaker's favourite—to lead the NPP as flagbearer for the third-time running in 2016.

Francis Addai Nimoh, the MP for Asante Mampong, caused a major upset as he polled 10 votes, representing 8.3 percent to take the third position ahead of Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, who finished fourth with three votes, which is 2.4 percent.

The three other contestants in the seven-man race—Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Kofi Osei Ameyaw and Joe Gartey—tied at the fifth position with two votes each, representing 2.1 percent.

The elections, held in selected centres countrywide, were observed keenly by both NPP supporters and others on the other side of the political divide, perhaps as a result of the rancorous nature of the campaign preceding it.

The Super Delegates' Congress was triggered by the number of contestants for the flagbearership position of the party for the 2016 polls exceeding five as contained in the party's Constitution.

The exercise as intended, pruned the number of contestants who would be vying for the flagbearership position in the elections which would be held in October.

Apraku, Asabee Crash
Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku have, by the outcome of yesterday's  exercise, fallen by the roadside and would not feature in the last round to eventually pick a flagbearer for the party on October 17.

The party headquarters in Accra as epicentre of the countrywide elections, saw a number of activities in anticipation of the outcome of the exercise.

Important party personalities turned up at the place, some supporting their frail bodies on walking sticks because of old age, to cast their votes.

Scene At NPP Headquarters
Nana Akufo-Addo, whose residence is a walking distance away from the party's Asylum Down headquarters, was among the early voters who cast their votes there, as he attracted dozens of cameras from the media.

The façade of the headquarters was a beehive of activities as those who were denied access by both the police and the NPP security officers, gathered in groups discussing among themselves their expectations.

The police were in full force, leaving nothing to chance, perhaps a measure informed by the last press conference held at the place and which attracted a nasty scene and negative press reports.

The Nima Division with support from other formations, mounted guards—some in riot gear.

The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohunu, turned up to observe for himself how things were going; from where he proceeded to the second voting centre, the Presbyterian Church, Osu.

Anxiety
Anxiety started building up when the 3:00 pm deadline end of voting neared.

Counting commenced without delay, especially since by that time all eligible voters had cast their votes. Even before the outcome of the exercise in Accra could be known, others, especially from the Upper West and East Regions, were heard on both radio and other sources, sending supporters into frenzy.

When eventually the results from Accra were announced, there was a deafening noise of approval.

Hajia Fati, aka Allegay, a known Nana supporter, was in full flight screaming her approval and posing for the cameras.

Sir John
Enter Kwadwo Afriyie, aka Sir John, immediate past General Secretary, into the party headquarters and a new cynosure is formed with supporters turning to his direction to listen to him as he engages in a long political talk in support of Nana.

He was mobbed and lifted by ecstatic supporters in shoulder when he was done with his conversation with his admirers.

Even before the official declaration of results from the EC representative, the supporters knew it, with the news having trickled down to them from motley sources. They danced, sang and jumped in excitement at the turn of events.

A podium was set for the official release of the results—an important development which had in attendance a GTV OB (Outside Broadcast) van.

Hoot
Party Chairman, Paul Afoko, and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, arrived at the headquarters in two different vehicles but it was not a triumphant entry. The reception was bereft of excitement, somewhat cold with bouts of booing for reasons that could not be fathomed.

Afoko had earlier been hooted at in Kumasi with Chairman Wontumi rescuing him from the jaws of angry supporters.

The duo managed to snake their way to their offices upstairs for a meeting of sorts. They were holed up upstairs for a rather long time before descending to the podium where an EC official was at hand to declare the results.

The crowd of supporters was reinvigorated for another bout of thunderous approval of the results when the EC official finished his assignment.

Some supporters, lost for words, asked whether those who could not perform well would throw in the towel.

A 'No Nana No Vote' refrain followed as the crowd headed for Nana's residence where they were told he was not in. He was said to have gone to his office at Ridge not far away from the Police Headquarters, where he eventually addressed the media.

Some stubborn supporters said they would sleep and wait for him at his residence.

The celebration by Nana's teeming supporters is certainly continuing today as losers come to terms with the reality of yesterday's resounding victory for the man who is associated with the Free SHS refrain.

Alan Shocked
Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, was shocked by the number of votes he polled at the congress.

Spokesperson for Alan and former General Secretary, Nana Ohene-Ntow, remarked that the results from the polls were 'really strange', adding 'I am telling myself there must be something that I need to understand.'

Expressing both his surprise and disappointment with the votes Alan had, Nana Ohene Ntow told Citi FM, the results from particularly the two Upper Regions and both the Central and Western Regions, 'surprised' them.

'Particularly, I am a bit surprised at the results we have received from the Central and the Western Regions and also the two Upper Regions. Because the indication that most of the delegates gave was completely different from the results that we are getting, but that is their mandate and they have expressed it…

“You can imagine that, a man of Alan's calibre, what he has done for the party, having served the party for this long will get no result in his own region. It is really strange. I am telling myself there must be something that I need to understand. For now we will wait for the full results to come in before we analyse them,' he said.

By A.R. Gomda