By-elections not a test of NPP`s popularity - NPP

The National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lord Commey has said the Offinso by-election has not and would never be a test of popularity of the NPP.

Speaking to a local newspaper -Accra Daily Mail (ADM) - over the weekend, Lord Commey said, “people are saying we lost two by-elections, so if we lose this one, it shows that we are not popular…This is not so, we never lost any by-elections, what we failed to do is to win another seat in addition to what we have already”.

Lord Commey, Party Chairman, Mac Manu and General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow have for almost two weeks been at Offinso South campaigning for votes.

In spite of the land slide victory gained by the NPP in the 2004 elections, Lord Commey said he would not be discouraged if the NPP loses the Offinso seat.

“In any democratic dispensation and especially in our case, we are democrats by choice, so we respect the decision of the electorate”, he said.

When asked if NPP supporters should expect a massive win, Lord Commey said, “we are looking for a win… Every win is a win”.

He told ADM that in the weeks spent at Offinso South, he has realised that the people are showing goodwill and that the love for the party is still unblemished at the constituency.

He was however cautious and said, “goodwill is not enough, they must go and translate it into votes and that is why we are here. We are pressing on the people to see the need to give their mandate to the NPP as they have always done”.

Lord Commey said the NPP executives are not relenting on their efforts to win the seat again.

A fortnight ago, the NPP gave Dr. Owusu Achaw Duah, a medical practitioner the nod to contest on the ticket of the party for the by-election scheduled for October 24.

The Offinso South seat became vacant when the incumbent, Kwabena Sarfo died on the 11th of August this year.

At the last elections at the constituency in 2004, the NPP had 19,694 votes, representing 51.9%, while the NDC had 11,637 votes, representing 30.7%. The PNC got 202 votes, the CPP,148 votes, EGLE had 95 votes and an independent candidate, Joseph Akwasi Kumah had 6,170 votes.