We were blackmailed to endorse Mahama – MPs reveals

Some minority Members of Parliament have vehemently denied signing to endorse John Dramani Mahama for the NDC’s flagbearership position. This follows allegation by former MP for La Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale that the supposed 94 MPs who endorsed Mr. Mahama were blackmailed.

But a Member of Parliament for Yunyoo constituency in the Northern region has revealed he was deceived into signing a paper endorsing former President John Mahama for 2020 flagbearer.

“NDC leadership must stop the politics of falsehood and deceit. I have not signed any letter to give support for Mr John Mahama’s candidature. I give my full support to Hon Alban Bagbin,” he is reported as said..

According to him, the document was given to him to sign and he did so thinking he was signing an attendance sheet to check absenteeism in parliament.

He said unknown to him, he was signing a document prepared by “Mahama boys,” who wanted to create the impression that the former president has an overwhelming support of the MPs by making them sign the so-called MPs4JM document.

In an interview granted Accra-based Asempa FM, Joseph Naabu claimed the camp of the former president perpetrated fraud on him.

The MP, who has already endorsed Mr. Mahama’s opponent, Alban Bagbin, noted that there is no way he would endorse the former president after he had already endorsed another candidate.

Leader of the 94 MPs, Edwin Nii Lantey Vandapuye, said Mahama stands as the best candidate the NDC can present for the next election. According to him.

Addressing the media, he said all the 94 MPs endorsed Mahama because the grassroots and most Ghanaians are calling for him (Mahama) to represent the party come 2020.

“I can tell you that we have 94 MPs who have faithfully and critically endorsed our former President, John Mahama, to be the candidate once again. This excludes our leaders. We decided to keep them off, but we are sure all our leaders will be supporting us soon,” Nii Lante said.

This massive endorsement comes after Mahama was also backed by all 10 Regional Chairmen of the NDC to lead the party in 2020. Meanwhile, the former president will not stand unopposed after the likes of Alban Bagbin, Dr. Spio-Garbrah, Sylvester Mensah and Joshua Alabi also declared their intentions of leading the NDC in the 2020 polls.

The opposition NDC will hold their congress in September to select the flagbearer of the party for the 2020 polls.