Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, the National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will stake a claim to the party’s chairman position when nominations open soon.
Confirming this to the Daily Graphic in an interview at his office in Accra yesterday, the astute politician declared “this is not time for too much words; It is time for work and I will prove myself in practice.”
On why he is seeking the high office in the NDC, Alhaji Yahaya simply stated, “I am responding to the challenges on the ground in the sense that the party needs to move on from better to best.”
“I am in the race to work for the strengthening of party structures, as well as play a part to position it not only to win future elections but meet the social expectation and needs of all Ghanaians,’’ he stated.
According to Alhaji Yahaya, the NDC had a lot of human and material resources to respond to those social challenges, and based on privileges and experiences he had acquired through party work over the years, he was making himself available to serve the party as the national chairman with a focus on unity, solidarity and hard work to enable the party to win the 2016 polls.
Fierce contest
Fierce competition is anticipated in the race for the national chairmanship of the NDC, since the incumbent national chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei, is facing a formidable challenge from two of his deputies who had all played a part to secure electoral victory for the party in the 2012 and 2008 general and presidential elections. Mr Kofi Portuphy, who has already launched his campaign, is the other national vice chairman contesting the top position of the party. Another NDC kingpin, a cadre and a former Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Daniel Abodakpi, has also launched his campaign to contest the same position. Meanwhile, posters of all the four aspirants are all over town signalling their readiness to assume the leadership mantle.
Current state of NDC
In the view of Alhaji Yahaya, there is always room for improvement in the social life, and the NDC cannot be an exception.
He argued “we are not alone in the space; we should always aim to achieve more; if we say we are perfect and we will do nothing about it, we will be swept by history.”
For instance, he said the NDC as a mass social party needed to improve on its structures and bring everybody on board to build a strong, purposeful and united party to win election 2016.
Party commitments
He said he was committed to the ideals of the party, which are hinged on the social democratic philosophy where the legitimate needs of the people are at the centre.
“All of us, as members of the NDC, should think of what we can do for the party; there is work to be done and we should place premium on what each of us can do for the party to address our socio-economic needs,” he stated.
“I do not stand for divisiveness because divisiveness cannot make our party strong,” he stated, and appealed to members of the NDC family to bear in mind that “whatever we do as members of the NDC must be in the interest of the party and people.”
He said that the NDC is touted as a grass-roots party and charged members of the party to endeavour to work for the ordinary man at all times.
“We have no business to be in politics if we do not fight for the ordinary man,” he stated.
Political profile
Alhaji Yahaya is a legal practitioner and an astute politician who has served in many different capacities in the NDC and also in government. He served as the first general secretary of the party, national vice chairman, member of the national executive, member of the constitution review committee and secretary of the Committees of Defence for the Revolution (CDRs) among other positions. He is the Chairman of the reconciliation committee and the constitutional review committee of the party.
Alhaji Yahaya is considered to be dedicated and loyal to the NDC cause, rendering selfless service to the party since its inception, as well as a good. grassroots organiser who makes sure that things get done even in the face of great challenges.
