MP Fingered in Hohoe North NDC Confusion

Prince Jacob Hayibor and Anthony Eli Kudzi

The embattled Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe North, Prince Jacob Hayibor has been accused of destabilizing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the constituency.

Anthony Eli Kudzi, the former driver and intelligence and research officer for Hon Hayibor, accused him of taking steps to weaken the party in the constituency.

In January, this year, the Hohoe North constituency primary was cancelled due to a court action initiated by one Lovejoy Aniapa. The Hohoe High Court gave the plaintiff and defendants a deadline of 31 st July to settle disagreements.

However the primary, which was held in August, was won by one Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo.

Hon. Hayibor described the primary as illegal because the case was pending before the court.

He vowed to hold individuals and institutions including the party's executives at various levels accountable for the action.

Eli Kudzi said his former boss, with the support of his brother, Emile Agbesi Hayibor took the action after realizing that it was impossible for him (MP) to retain the Hohoe North seat.

Anthony, who is also the NDC Secretary for Gbi Kpeme-branch 2 and served as the campaign manager for the constituency in 2008, hinted that in May last year, the MP tasked him to ascertain his popularity in the area.

The research indicated that he was no more on the ground. After several deliberations, the MP refused an advice to voluntarily step down and settled on using 'technicalities and foul play' to secure the seat, he added.

He claimed the first move was to investigate T.K. Dzimegah and Dr. Heloo the two candidates contesting the slot.

He alleged that Mr. Hayibor and his brother offered a GH¢10,000.00 reward for anyone who could 'thwart' the chances of the other candidates.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Anthony Kudzi said he opted to take the job and immediately he was given a motorbike and GH¢600.00 out of which GH¢200.00 was given to one Seth Dogbe who was handling Nestor Gbevlo Lartey, the son of Larry Gbevlo Lartey, the National Security Coordinator.

Anthony noted that he wrote a petition against Dr. Heloo and T.K. Dzimegah and sent copies to the constituency and regional executives.

He said after careful analysis he advised his boss to abort the process and compete fairly, claiming that after he left others were employed to hold press conferences and initiate court actions.

He mentioned that since he left the MP's camp, he had been harassed by his sympathizers and his brother, Emile.

Anthony noted that he decided to expose him in the supreme interest of the party and described the MP's actions as voracious.

When Hon Jacob Hayibor was contacted, he denied the allegations and noted that Anthony Kudzi was a disgruntled member of his team who was influenced to tarnish his name.

He added that Anthony joined the Nestor Gbevlo Lartey's camp and when his plans failed, he switched to Dr. Heloo's camp.

He said, 'In politics when someone wants to pull you down they use a lot of tactics to tarnish your image.'

I got to know of that injunction only after it had been granted and because my campaign manager, Hacker Brempong is a distant relation of the plaintiff, Lovejoy Aniapa whose lawyer, Chris Koka is related to his friend, Cornelius Koka people think I am the one behind it, he indicated.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the matter at all levels.

From Fred Duodu, Hohoe