Confusion rocks UFP as two people go for EC nomination forms

The confusion that rocked Kumasi based United Front Party (UFP) over the choice of presidential candidate to lead the party to the 2012 general election is now escalating as both Mr Akwasi Addae (Odike), the supposed dismissed candidate, and Mr Kweku Owusu Antwi, the preferred candidate, have picked forms from the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest the presidential election.

While Mr Akwasi Addae picked his form last Friday ready to seek support from credible party members across the country to endorse his candidature to enable him lead the party to the 2012 elections, his main rival, Mr Antwi, will also be at the EC to pick his form for the same purpose.

Incidentally, the party Chairman, Nana Agyenim Boateng, who is leading Mr Antwi to the EC office to pick the form, has sworn to use all his influence to nullify the candidature of Mr Addae, claiming that both the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the UFP and the Council of Elders as well as party faithful have already dismissed and disowned Mr Addae.

Speaking to Daily Graphic in an interview at the Kumasi Office of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) to explain the party’s position on the issue, Nana Agyenim Boateng noted, “He can pick the form to contest the Presidential Election because it is his constitutional rights, but he can only do so as an independent candidate . He can never present the form in the name of the UFP. This is because we have not only dismissed him from the party but have also disowned him”.

He pointed out that he had already discussed the issue with a member of the EC, Mr Sarfo Kantanka, and explained the position of the party in terms of their preferred choice of candidate, and therefore wondered why Mr Addae was allowed to pick a form.

“Already, Mr Addae has threatened to take the party to court to seek compensation of GH¢ 8 million for what he described as wrongful dismissal, so if he was still the flag bearer, why is he threatening to fight us in court” he questioned.

“Once he has taken such a stand of seeking what he claims as redress from court, it means he has not only accepted his dismissal fully, but cannot also do anything in the name of the party” he stressed.

Stressing further, he said since Mr Antwi was their preferred candidate, the NEC of the UFP would lead him to pick his form. Afterwards, they would ensure that it was endorsed and return it to the EC within the stipulated time.

When he was reminded that somebody had already picked a form in the name of the party and was seeking support from party members to endorse it, Nana Boateng stressed, “He can stand as an independent Presidential candidate but not a candidate of the UFP”.

He alleged that Mr Addae has an influential friend who works at the EC office in Accra, so before he picked the form last Friday, that friend made fruitless efforts to intervene for Mr Addae to be accepted into the party “but I told him that we have already taken a decision, and also selected our preferred candidate to lead us to victory in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2012.”

He assured that he together with the NEC and Council of Elders were in full control over the controversy that has rocked that party, and therefore urged all members of the party to remain calm as they address the challenges.

Earlier, Mr Addae also told Daily Graphic in an interview that he started touring the country as soon as he picked the form to seek the endorsement from members of the UFP.

When he was reminded about the controversy surrounding his candidature, he noted “the EC would not have given me the form if they had any question about my candidature”.

He pointed out that he was working tirelessly to ensure that he gets the right members to endorse the form and return it before the deadline.

“I am very certain that I will get an overwhelming support from members, and the EC has giving me the form is an endorsement, so nobody can prevent me from contesting the Presidential elections in the name of UFP” he declared.

source: Daily Graphic

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