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The Nkwanta North Young Democrats, a group within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have publicly endorsed Mr Paul Levin Gyato ahead of the upcoming parliamentary primaries in the constituency.
The group’s communication director, Mr David Nalibe, signed and read a press statement explaining that data shows their political opponents may snatch the parliamentary seat if the incumbent MP, Mr John Kwabena Oti Bless, is retained as the candidate for the constituency. “It’s very obvious that the NDC seat in Nkwanta North is no longer safe in the hands of our current MP,” Mr Nalibe stated.
The Young Democrats claim that there is a high possibility of the NDC losing the seat in the 2024 parliamentary elections, based on data gathered from their research. They believe that there is a need for a new face in the race, stating that this is the only way the party can win and maintain the seat for the NDC in the upcoming elections.
Mr Paul Levin Gyato, a former District Chief Executive of Nkwanta North, is seen as the frontrunner among the aspirants seeking the Nkwanta North seat in the parliamentary primaries slated for May 13 of this year. Other aspirants include Mr Oti Bless, Mr David Npoan, Mr Nlaliban Ujanji, and Mr Francis Bindipum.
The Young Democrats have decided to come together to rescue the party from its dwindling fortunes, citing a continued decline in the voting pattern from an over 12,000 gap to only 1,601 between the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Nalibe noted that in the 2012 election, the NDC garnered 21,659 votes (62. 104%) with the NPP obtaining 12,762 votes (36. 593%) with a gap of 8,897 (25. 511%). In the 2020 election, the NDC only polled 24,470 votes (51. 690%) with the NPP closing in with 22,869 votes (48. 309%) leaving a gap of 1,601 (3. 381%).
“We can no longer gamble with these realities, and the answer is to elect a new face to re-energize their base,” Mr Nalibe emphasized, calling for massive votes from delegates for Mr Gyato.
Mr Gyato, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, stated that changing candidates was part of political discourse, noting that the incumbent MP has done his bit. “It is time to change for innovative ideas, fresh legs, and new development,” he said.