Controversial Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who emerged the first runner up at the just-ended Presidential Primaries of the New Patriotic Party says he and his followers control more than one-thirds of the party.
According to him, their influence in the party had been cemented after getting 37% of votes cast in the 4th November Presidential elections of the party.
Kennedy Agyapong stated this on Saturday, during a Thanksgiving Service he organized for his supporters, where he emphatically stated “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’’.
In his eight-minute speech, he expressed gratitude to the party members and also jabbed his opponents, by saying that he had been serially underetimated by opponents hence their surprise at the votes that he pulled.
According to him, “We went into a contest and as you know, you either win or lose. This contest was one man against the whole system,” he said to cheers from the gathering that brought together campaign officers and supporters from across the country’’.
“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’’, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong said.
The service was to express his gratitude to God following the outcome of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), where he also said the recently-held presidential primary was a contest between himself and the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“I know there is time ahead of us. I beseech you all to pray for me to get a long life with good health, with that, the will of God will surely be done. Have belief that all is not lost, one day, one day, what God has ordained will come to pass,” he stated adding: “it is only Ken Agyapong who loses a contest and throws a big party.”
He said some people predicted that his best performance was going to be 10 percent. Others also said their research showed that his best performance was going to be 15 percent.
“But today, they have all locked themselves up in their various rooms,” Mr Agyapong said.
‘’There was this pastor who even said if I [Ken] gets 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, Mr Agyapong said.
“He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day,” Mr Agyapong said and asked for prayers for a long life with good health, and added ‘’God’s ways and wishes are the best and once there was life and good health, God’s wishes shall surely come to pass one day’’.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, at the just-ended presidential primaries, congratulated the party’s elections committee for organizing a free and fair presidential primary.
“This is the only thing I’ve been preaching, and I must admit this election is fair and my grassroots have spoken; therefore, I accept the results in good faith,” Mr Agyapong said moments after the results were announced.
He pledged his support to the flagbearer-elect to help defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and “break the eight. So, party members we should put everything behind us and let’s unite this party…, I believe we can break the eight and that’s what I’ve been preaching’’.
The “showdown” man polled 71,936 votes representing 37.38 percent while the winner, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, obtained 118,210 votes representing 61.43 percent of all 192, 446 valid votes cast.
The remaining candidates, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former MP for Asante Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh polled 1,459 and 781 votes, representing 0.76 percent and 0.41 percent respectively.
BY Daniel Bampoe