The National Democratic Congress in the Central Region says its chairman for the Ekumfi Constituency who defected to the New Patriotic Party, Ekow Essilfie-Buckman, failed a “loyalty test” set up for him.
Mr Essilfie-Buckman on Monday announced his resignation from the NDC citing hostilities against him as well as some internal wrangling within the party that the regional executives have failed to resolve
He claimed executives of the party schemed to disqualify the two main challengers – Former MP George Kuntu Blankson and Chief Hamilton Biney – to the incumbent Abeiku Crentsil in the November 12, 2015 primary.
According to him, those persons against him plotted to have his name “mysteriously” expunged from the register, which prevented him from casting his vote.
But a statement issued Monday night by the Regional Executives of the party said although they welcome his decision to defect, it came as no surprise to them considering his past record.
“It is an indication of his failure of the loyalty test we put to him when the party granted him amnesty to return to us after he contested as an independent parliamentary candidate in 2008 and campaigned for NPPs Akufo-Addo in the Mfantseman East constituency (Now Ekumfi constituency),” it said.
Read the full statement below
CENTRAL REGION NDC WHOLEHEARTEDLY WELCOME THE DEFECTION OF MR EKOW ESSILFIE-BUCKMAN
The Central Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress has taken notice of the defection of Mr. Ekow Essilfe-Buckman of the Ekumfi Constituency to another political party and write to inform the nation that, we wholeheartedly welcome his decision which is a good news to the NDC in Ekumfi.
It is an indication of his failure of the loyalty test we put to him when the party granted him amnesty to return to us after he contested as an independent parliamentary candidate in 2008 and campaigned for NPPs Akuffo Addo in the Mfantseman East constituency (Now Ekumfi constituency).
Mr. Buckman’s decision to defect to the Npp never came to us as a surprise, because of his penchant to abandon the party at various times and his many moves against the fortunes of Hon Abeiku Crentsil (MP for Ekumfi) and the defection of his spokesperson -Mr. Adams Seidu to the Npp last month. Yes! The Seidu Adams who joined the then incumbent party (Npp) in power prior to the general elections in 2008 is well known and documented.
This is a Constituency Chairman that his own constituency executives unanimously suspended in April 2015 over what they described as anti-party behavior and clandestine moves against his sitting MP. It took the Regional Executives to instruct his executives to reinstate him and since April, 2015, Mr Ekow Essilfie-Buckman has openly shown hatred towards his MP and has vowed to continue working against him. We in the NDC, are poised and focussed on our agenda of winning a minimum of twenty (20) Parliamentary seats and fifty-seven percent (57%) of valid votes cast from this Region for the President come Dec 7th, 2016.
The Chiefs and good people of the Ekumfi constituency are grateful to the NDC Govt of President John Dramani Mahama for the numerous developmental projects their constituency has received and are still benefitting from.
We take the opportunity to thank the rank and file of our great Party in the Region who have remained resolute, firm and committed to our ideals and principles that bind us together as a political party and are also working assiduously to the victory of the great Akatamaso. The leadership also takes the opportunity to assure the rank and file that, the National Democratic Congress in the Central Region is much more united and committed to victory come December 7th, 2016.
Signed
Kwesi Dawood
RCO-Central
By 3news.com|Ghana