I Will Support Commey — Walid

Mr Walid Aryetei Laryea,who just opted out as an independent candidate for the Odododiodoo Constituency by-election, has resolved to support the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party candidate,Mr Jonathan Tackie Commey, to win the bye-election in the area.

“Now we have to join forces to win the by-election. We will all help our brother Jonathan Tackie Commey to win with a wide margin,” he said in a press statement.

The statement said most of Mr Laryea's supporters were disappointed at his decision to step down, and explained that he took the decision after sober reflection and consultation.

“I have stepped down in the interest of the NDC, the party I love,” it said.He,therefore,appealed to his supporters to “look at what is best for the party” and join him to help Mr Commey to win the by-election.

The statement recalled that Mr Laryea decided to contest primaries on the ticket of the NDC following the death of the late Member of Parliament for the area,Mr Mankattah, whom he described as a brother and friend.

However, it said Mr Laryea was disqualified on some “strange grounds”, and when the disqualification was revoked he was told that he would contest the primaries.

“Then all of a sudden, someone filed a writ which became the excuse to stop the primaries from taking place. To me it was a strategy to buy some people to keep me out of the race,” the statement said.

Therefore, it said, Mr Laryea decided to go independent as a protest against “the raw deal given to me by the party”. “I wanted to prove a point to them that I am sure I could have won the election.

I wanted the party executives to know people like me will fight for the proper things to be done to sustain democracy in the party,”the statement quoted Mr Laryea as saying.

He expressed the hope that “the confusion” created would be a lesson to all members of the NDC.Mr Laryea acknowledged the efforts of the founder of the NDC, former President Jerry John Rawlings,a former Flagbearer, Professor Evans Atta-Mills,and all the senior party functionaries who spoke and appealed to him to reconsider his decision,saying “I respect their fairness”.

He also thanked his family,friends and well wishers for their loyalty and support,and concluded that “the struggle continues until the NDC wins the bye-election”.