A former National Chairman aspirant of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Huudu Yahaya has explained that his decision to withdraw from the race was to avoid what he calls ethnic politics.
Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, who was among the four aspirants seeking to lead the NDC as its National Chairman, pulled out of the race at the last minute to support the eventual winner, Kofi Portuphy.
Huudu Yahaya’s explanation comes less than twenty-four hours after some irate youth of the NDC in the Tamale metropolis threatened to burn his house for pulling out of the race.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya insisted that his decision was in the best interest of the party and its future.
He said: “one of the reasons was the fact that if I am elected national chairman of the NDC, together with the president and flagbearer,” it will mean that we have “the two topmost leaders of the party from the same region, something those in opposition to my candidacy saw as being interpreted as a hijack of the party by Northerners.”
“I was also emphatic and on countless occasions that my election as chairman of the National Democratic Congress isn’t an ‘all die be die affair’ and that the party’s interest remains paramount.”
Despite the huge resources invested in his campaign, Huudu Yahaya said his decision was thoughtful and “deference to the charter and council of elders of the NDC.”
“It is a decision we have taken collectively and we do not regret it. The NDC party is bigger than any single individual, and nobody’s interest should override that of the party. We are happy with the decision taken and we are going to bring our knowledge and expertise to bare on the work of current executives to restructure the party and ensure a resounding victory for NDC in 2016,” he added.
He, however apologized to his supporters, members of the NDC and delegates “who might have been let down by my decision to step down.”
“I wish to call on all our supporters to come together and support the new executives to ensure victory for our party,” he further added.
