A former presidential candidate of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) Dr. Edward Mahama has picked-up nomination forms in a bid to lead the party in the 2016 general elections.
This puts to an end months of speculation about his comeback plans.
[contextly_sidebar id=”gE4Lay2ulZIFyf518sQtEnL9i5U3wrRl”]Dr Edward Mahama, who was the party’s presidential candidate from 1996 to 2008, will compete with 2012 flagbearer Hassan Ayariga and former party chairman, Micheal Mensah-Bonsu.
Confirming his candidature to Citi News, Dr. Mahama said, the rank and file of the party asked him to return.
“The rank and file have come to my residence several times pleading with me to come back. The 16 years I led PNC, I did it for them, now they are calling me. If don’t come back it means that I did it for m because at that time, I was offering myself, now they are saying come.”
Dr. Mahama assured that “I won’t turn my back on my followers.”
How Dr. Mahama fared in previous elections
In 1996, Dr. Edward Mahama had 3.0% of the vote in the presidential election.
In his second attempt at the presidency, in 2000, he had 2.5% of the vote.
In preparation for the 2004 presidential election, the PNC and two other parties – Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) formed an alliance known as the Grand Coalition and chose Mahama as its presidential candidate.
He placed third out of four candidates, winning 1.9% of the vote.
Mahama was again elected as the presidential candidate for the PNC in the December 7, 2008 presidential elections.
Hassan Ayariga who took over from Dr. Mahama had 0.22% vote in 2012 election.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana