NDC Primaries: Duffuor Quits Presidential Race At The Last Hour, Says He's Dissatisfied With Processes

NDC Primaries: Duffuor Quits Presidential Race At The Last Hour, Says He's Dissatisfied With Processes

  • Dr Kwbena Duffuor has quit the presidential primaries of the NDC at the last hour, citing fears the elections will not be credible
  • He told journalists late Friday evening that his campaign has been sidelined in processes like the distribution of ballot papers to polling stations
  • The former Governor of the Bank of Ghana said he was committed to the party and the grassroots but expressed doubt in the party's preparedness to hold a free and fair election

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Dr Kwabena Duffuor has pulled out of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s presidential race, citing dissatisfaction with the processes for Saturday's elections.

The businessman and former Governor of the Bank of Ghana held a late evening press conference on Friday, May 12, 2023, to announce the surprise decision to quit the crucial presidential race.

Read also

"There is no disunity in NDC": Mahama reacts to Duffuor's withdrawal from primaries

"Taking part in such an event will be akin to knowingly drinking from a poisoned calabash," he told journalists.
Dr Kwabena Duffuor has pulled out of the NDC presidential primaries.
Dr Kwabena Duffuor says he does not trust that the elections will be free and fair. Source: Facebook/@DrKwabenaDuffuor
Source: UGC

Duffuor fears presidential primaries will be marred by irregularities

He explained that the elections on Saturday, May 13, 2023, will not be smooth and will be dotted with irregularities because the party does not seem ready to hold a free and fair election.

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"The party has begun distributing the ballot papers...without our involvement. I wish to reiterate my commitment to the party and grassroots, however my concerns that the party is not ready to conduct free and fair elections is evident for all of us to see," he added.
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Duffuor knows he will be defeated in the primaries - Kwaku Kobeah

Meanwhile, Kwaku Kobeah, a presidential aspirant who also withdrew from the race, has said an injunction writ filed by Dr Duffuor against the primaries was in bad faith.

Read also

John Dumelo asserts Mahama will win by a landslide at the NDC delegates election

He said Dr Duffuor filed the writ because he knows he will be defeated in the presidential primaries on May 13, 2023.

Kwaku Kobeah says John Mahama is the best presidential candidate for the NDC in the next general elections.

Duffuor will be punished by NDC delegates for injunction suit

YEN.com.gh reported in a separate story that an NDC MP has said there are rife signs that Dr Kwabena Duffuor will be punished severely by party delegates who will vote in the presidential primaries.

Clement Apaak said delegates see the injunction writ filed by Dr Duffuor as an act of disloyalty.

Dr Duffuor went to the High Court to stop the May 13 primaries, citing discrepancies with the delegates list that would be used in the voting.

He, however, withdrew the case from court on Friday, paving the way for the primaries to held across the country.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
George Nyavor avatar

George Nyavor (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) George Nyavor writes for YEN.com.gh. He has been Head of the Politics and Current Affairs Desk since 2022. George has over 9 years of experience in managing media and communications (Myjoyonline and GhanaWeb). George is a member of the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners Ghana (CAMP-G). He obtained a BA in Communications Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2010. Reach out to him via george.nyavor@yen.com.gh.