Don’t go to court again if we defeat you in 2020’ – Mahama tells Nana Addo John Dramani Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should be ready to openly accept defeat should they lose the upcoming 2020 general elections.

According to Mr. Mahama, the NPP should not return to court just like they did after the declaration of the 2012 elections, which saw him defeat Akufo-Addo to become President of the Republic.

Speaking to delegates and party faithfuls in Koforidua as part of his Eastern Regional tour ahead of the party’s congress to elect a flagbearer to lead the NDC in 2020 elections, former President John Mahama said the NPP should wholeheartedly accept the outcome of the 2020 elections in peace and hand over power just like he did in 2016.

“I want NPP to know that in 2020 if they lose the elections and the NDC becomes victorious, they should just hand the power over to us. We do not want them to repeat what they did in 2012… After winning the 2012 elections they took us to court for almost a year disputing the election results. Today, I want to tell them we do not want them to repeat that this time around, if we become victorious in 2020 we want them to hand over peacefully”.

Former President Mahama then urged the delegates to work hard to ensure the party returns to power, adding that the party can only wrestle power from the NPP if they remain united towards that goal.

According to him, Ghanaians will enjoy when the NDC is voted back into power.

“I want every party member, delegate and grassroots supporter to all sacrifice themselves for the party, we need everyone to show some level of sacrifice to ensure we come back to power to save Ghanaians who are suffering under this government. I have been to 8 regions and the Eastern Region is the 9th, in all my interactions with Ghanaians they all say there is hardship in the country so I am urging you all to work hard for the party to return to power, and you will all enjoy”.

We’ll win by over 1 million votes in 2020 – Nana Addo

In December 2018, President Nana Akufo-Addo predicted a landslide victory for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 election.

Despite persistent complaints of hardship, the President believes the achievements of his government in the last two years are enough to secure the NPP another term in office.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Anyaa LA school complex at Anyaa as part of his tour of the Greater Accra Region, he said, “I will ask for your continuous support for my party and for my government, for it is that support that strengthens me in the work I am doing.”

“[For] the one million difference in 2016, we are going to increase it on the basis of the work that I am doing… All those who said that I would not be able or I could not fulfill my promises, I hope that one by one, they are seeing that they were wrong.”

President Akufo-Addo is yet to declare any intent to run in for the presidency in 2020.

But former President John Mahama has urged the 74-year-old to contest as the New Patriotic Party’s candidate so he can face him again.

“I am begging President Nana Akufo Addo to contest in the next polls. In boxing, the first fight is called the title fight. If you win that fight and your opponent wants another one, it is called a rematch. This is similar to what happened in 2012 when I beat Nana Addo in the polls. In 2016 however, I was defeated. In the 2020 elections, it will be tantamount to a decider in boxing since we have both won the election once, the next poll will determine who the champion really is.”

Nana Addo’s massive win in 2016

President Akufo-Addo overcame John Mahama with 53.85% of the total valid votes cast, against the NDC’s 44.4%.

Akufo-Addo’s victory was described as historic in many ways, as it was the first time a sitting President was beaten in an election in that manner.

It was also the first time a total vote difference of more than 1 million was recorded, between the winner and his closest contender any election in Ghana.

Observers attributed the overwhelming election victory to public disaffection for the NDC due to growing impunity and the perception of corruption.

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Source: citinewsroom.com |