Friends of Adjahoe says he did not manipulate primaries

Friends of Doe Adjaho, (FODA), on Thursday described as “preposterous,” allegations that Mr Doe Adjaho, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ave-Avenor Constituency, manipulated the process to be acclaimed candidate of that constituency for the 2012 Election. Mr James Gunu, Secretary of FODA, a Movement supporting Mr Adjaho, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Ho that allegations that “Mr Adjaho cajoled constituency executives to his beck-and-call to offer him (Adjaho) the seat again belied the issue.” A group, Movement for Change in Akatsi District, at a press-conference in Accra on Tuesday, disparaged the process by which Mr Adjaho won the NDC primaries for his sixth bid for Parliament as grossly unfair. Mr Edwin Tengey speaking for the group, called for fresh primaries to be held or “mobilize the good people of Avenor-Ave, particularly the youth to rise up and fight the apparent injustice…” Mr Gunu, however, said Mr Adjaho, who is also the first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, won the primaries because of “his achievements and experience.” He said Mr Adjaho was a candidate just as Mr Evans Gadeto Djikunu, a Lawyer, and main contender, and Mr Adjaho had no hand in his (Djikunu’s) disqualification on technical grounds by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the national vetting. Mr Gunu said it defied logic for one person to successfully manipulate a whole electoral college, and that the “roar of support” that acclaimed Mr Adhajo was only based on the reality on the ground. He alleged that Mr Djikunu might not even be a card bearing member of the NDC and challenged him to produce documentations of registration. Mr Gunu said it was unfortunate that any individual or group would seek to the contend the very transparent process that selected Mr Adjaho to contest the seat again, especially so “spew out” threats to the peace of the area. He said FODA was for peace and development of the area, and would work to stem any threat to the harmony in the NDC in the constituency and said Mr Tengey and his movement was representing confusion.