The newly elected NPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East Constituency, Honourable Zak Rahman, has called for unity among the NPP supporters after his victory on Saturday, urging all to turn their sights to the main election next year.
Honourable Zak Rahman emerged victorious in the hotly contested Ayawaso East parliamentary primary for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday, defeating his only contender, Baba Ali, by 11 votes.
Amid a jubilant mood, Rahman wasted no time in urging unity and consolidation within party ranks as the NPP seeks to turn Ayawaso East blue once again after the heavy loss two years ago.
In his victory speech, hours after winning one of the closest elections, Rahman called for unity within the party as they set sights on the main target of winning the Ayawaso East parliamentary seat for the first time in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
“I want to especially thank the dedicated delegates who participated in this process and cast their ballots. Your engagement and support are what make our party strong at the grassroots level,” Rahman said to a cheering crowd.
“I want to thank you all for the trust and belief they have placed in me to carry the NPP flag in Ayawaso East.”
“I am humbled that you have entrusted me with this responsibility, and I intend to work hard to translate your aspirations into tangible outcomes.
“But our work has just begun—we need a united front to snatch this seat from the opposition NDC next year.
With 283 votes against Baba Ali’s 275, Rahman grabbed the ticket as the party’s candidate for next year’s election.
Nonetheless, Rahman extended an olive branch to his only contender in Saturday’s fiercely fought contest. He believes the deputy constituency secretary has a lot to offer.
He expressed hopes that Ali will join in “working side-by-side” to ensure victory for the party.
“In this case, I would want to extend my appreciation to my only opponent, Baba Ali, for running a spirited campaign focused on the issues that matter most, Hon. Zak Rahman said.
“Baba Ali, you fought a good fight and have a lot to offer to the NPP in our quest to turn Ayawaso East blue. I encourage him to join hands with us as we consolidate our efforts ahead of 2024
“You have been a passionate voice for progress, and I hope you will continue working side-by-side with me to best serve the NPP party and Ayawaso East. You brought constructive ideas to this contest, and that is the beauty of democracy.
“I humbly ask you to join hands with me so that together we can create jobs, improve schools, and uplift lives across our constituency.”
With Rahman’s calls for consolidating efforts within the party, the NPP will be hoping he can mobilise supporters and reverse the party’s defeat at the next general election.
The Ayawaso East seat is currently held by the opposition National Democratic Congress’s Naser Toure Mahama, who defeated the NPP candidate in 2020 by over 7,000 votes.
But Rahman believes that, as a homeboy, born in Nima 441, he has what it takes to clear the deficit and clinch victory for the ruling party, which has yet to win the Ayawaso East seat since multiparty democracy returned to Ghana in 1992.
