The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), a National Democratic Congress (NDC) affiliated youth group, has said the incumbent Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Dr Hassan Rashid Pelpuo remains the NDC's surest bet in winning the 2024 parliamentary elections.
The group was responding to a press conference held by Crusaders for Positive Change, a group affiliated to Alhaji Hudu Mogtari, a contender in the upcoming NDC Wa Central parliamentary primaries, during which the group, among others, called for a new face as the Wa Central NDC parliamentary candidate.
However, in the counter-press conference addressed by Betis Abubakari Nurideen Kotie, a leading member of the PYA, it maintained that the incumbent MP remains the strongest force that can assure the NDC yet another victory for retaining the Wa Central seat.
It averred that Dr Hassan was in his prime – experienced, tried and tested – and that changing him now would not favour the NDC and the constituents as it said “there will be a change in Wa Central someday but definitely not now… we can’t gamble with a new face.”
“Surely, we will introduce a new candidate preferably when we are in power.
“However, he must be young, vibrant and resonates well with the grassroots but definitely not someone far older than our incumbent MP so as to engender youth participation,” it emphasized.
The group, however, accused Alhaji Hudu Mogtari of constantly running away from the constituency, at the times when he was most needed, anytime he contested and lost the primaries.
“It surprises us that the constantly absent Hudu in our struggle to maintain the unity and strength of the Constituency is compared to the Hon Pelpuo,” it said.
The group further argued that Alhaji Mogtari is the reason their opponents, New Patriotic Party (NPP) are gaining much ground in the constituency.
“Anytime he comes to contest primaries and loses, he disappears, leaving the base of the gathering disunited.
“No wonder we can count tens of his former supporters who declared they were talibans after losing and are now staunch NPP supporters,” it said.
The PYA further accused Alhaji Hudu of undertaking development projects in the Salaga constituency, where his wife, Joyce Bawa Mogtari hails from, at the detriment of Wa Central when he was the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) boss.
The group profiled some youth empowerment initiatives undertaken by the MP, Dr Hassan in areas of CCTV camera installations, electric fencing, DSTV and satellite installations among others through the youth are employed and earning decent livings.
It thus called for the continuity of Dr Hassan to consolidate the gains made in the past years by urging delegates to vote massively for the incumbent MP.
It noted that the next priority development areas of Dr Hassan as MP would include; the provision of potable water, rapid youth employment drives, and extension of electricity to the remaining five communities in the constituency.
Others were: further education and business support schemes as well as the provision of more infrastructure to augment existing ones in the constituency.