Controversial Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, emerged as the first runner-up in the New Patriotic Party’s Presidential Primaries, and he now boldly claims influence over more than one-third of the party. Speaking at a Thanksgiving Service organized for his supporters on Saturday, Agyapong asserted that their impact within the party had solidified, particularly after securing 37% of the votes in the November 4 Presidential elections.
During his eight-minute speech, Agyapong expressed gratitude to his supporters and took a swipe at his opponents, stating, “Today, you are relevant in the party because we control more than one-third of the party, so there is nothing they can do without consulting you. We’ve made a statement, there is no basis to be downcast.”
Agyapong, known for his candid and often controversial remarks, continued to address the surprise surrounding the votes he garnered. “They underestimated me when the election was getting close. I was told I would get 10% maximum. Others floated a research finding that I will get 15%. Today they are all hiding. One man against the whole system,” he declared to cheers from the gathering of campaign officers and supporters from across the country.
Highlighting the significance of the primaries, Agyapong characterized the contest as “one man against the whole system,” emphasizing the challenges he faced leading up to the elections. Despite predictions that he would achieve a maximum of 15%, Agyapong secured 37.38% of the votes, a result that stunned critics.
The Thanksgiving Service served as a platform for Agyapong to express gratitude to God for the outcome of the NPP presidential primaries. He stated that the recently-held primary was essentially a contest between himself and the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Acknowledging the predictions made about his performance, Agyapong remarked, “There was this pastor who even said if I [Ken] get more than 16 percent, he [pastor] should be killed. But today, I am praying for that pastor, that God should grant him a long life and he should not die soon.”
While congratulating the party’s elections committee for organizing a free and fair presidential primary, Agyapong pledged his support to the flagbearer-elect, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He urged party members to unite in their pursuit to “break the eight” and defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dr. Bawumia, the victor of the primaries, obtained 61.43% of the votes, with Agyapong securing 37.38%. The remaining candidates, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai-Nimoh, polled 0.76% and 0.41% respectively, out of the 192,446 valid votes cast. As Agyapong faces the future with confidence, the dynamics within the NPP hint at a party gearing up for the challenges of the 2024 elections.
Source: GhanaFeed.Com