Ayariga Forms APC

The former presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Hassan Ayariga, has made good his intention of forming a political party following his defeat in the recent congress of the PNC in Wa in the Upper West Region.

Ayariga was defeated by veteran PNC leader, Dr Edward Mahama, who used the opportunity to stage a comeback to the political limelight.

His new party, the All People's Congress (APC), shares both logo and name with President Muhammadu Buhari's APC in Nigeria – a conglomeration of other political parties.

Ayariga is described as the Supreme Leader of the                   yet-to-be-launched party.

It is not known why Hassan Ayariga decided not to be ingenious with his choice of name for his party and even a logo – still the broom – which was lavishly used in a symbolic sweeping away of the Goodluck Jonathan's People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria. It is not clear if he wants to use the broom to sweep away the National Democratic Congress' (NDC's) rot since it's believed he's being funded by the ruling party.

The December 12, 2015 PNC congress in Wa saw Dr Edward Mahama emerge as the flagbearer of the PNC, a victory which incensed Hassan Ayariga immensely.

When Ayariga was alleged to be undertaking visits to various constituencies, many, especially his party people, suspected that he was going to unfurl something sinister.

Joy News yesterday reported that its checks suggested that Mr Ayariga had picked the necessary forms for the certification process of his APC, adding that he would be issued with a provisional certificate on Friday, January 29, 2016.

However, party national chairman, Bernard Mornah, says he was doing everything possible to bring Ayariga back. “I have sent messages to our former flagbearer. I have tried to call him but he has not been able to respond to the calls and I do hope that he returns them so we can talk,” Bernard Mornah told Joy Fm.

Hassan Ayariga is set to launch his own political party this week to contest in the 2016 presidential race.

Mornah insists that as far as he is concerned, there is no new political party formed by Ayariga.

“I see PNC in him. As far as I am concerned, there isn't any new political party being formed; but if there is any idea or sort of forming one, I think that it is ill-advised and it is time to work together,” he stated.

Hassan Ayariga gained notoriety for coughing each time Nana Akufo-Addo was making his presentation during the 2012 Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) presidential debate series.

Many PNC supporters described as embarrassing his performance on the political turf, vowing to ensure that he does not show up as the party's flagbearer. This brings to 26, the total number of political parties licensed by the Electoral Commission.

By A.R. Gomda