Former Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has officially launched his campaign, ‘Operation 90,000 Votes for JM’, aimed at securing 90,000 votes for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, in the upcoming December general elections.
During the launch, Iddrisu acknowledged the challenge of meeting this target, especially in light of his previous efforts to secure 70,000 votes for Mahama in the 2016 elections, where he managed to deliver 51,839 votes. Although there was an increase in the 2020 election, with a total of 57,605 votes, the MP emphasized that the 90,000-vote target was attainable this time.
Speaking to his supporters on Sunday, Iddrisu pledged to work tirelessly alongside his constituency executives to achieve the goal. He emphasized the critical role voter turnout would play, urging the people of Tamale South to come out in large numbers to support the NDC. He warned that if the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) remains in power, it would lead to more hardship for Ghanaians.
“The 90,000 votes target is within our reach if we work together and mobilize. We cannot afford to keep the NPP in power as they continue to make life harder for Ghanaians,” he said.
Local Analyst: 90,000 Votes Achievable
Fuseini Safianu Mandeiya, a journalist and elections analyst based in the Tamale South Constituency, backed Iddrisu’s confidence in achieving the ambitious target. Mandeiya pointed out that the dynamics of the 2024 elections favor the NDC, especially in Tamale South, where the number of registered voters has increased from 114,000 to 123,000.
“Haruna Iddrisu’s target of 90,000 votes is achievable. The constituency has about 145,000 registered voters, and it is predominantly an NDC stronghold. The only obstacle to achieving this target is voter apathy, but I don’t expect that to be a problem this time,” Mandeiya explained.
Massive Turnout Despite Heavy Rains
In a show of support, thousands of Tamale South residents braved a heavy downpour to attend the campaign launch at the SIC Quarters Park. This marked the first time in months that Tamale experienced a full day of rain, but the weather did little to deter supporters of Haruna Iddrisu and the NDC.
“I have been here for hours, soaked in the rain, but I don’t mind because I wanted to see Lawyer Haruna, the man who is making the NDC attractive to us,” a resident said.
The event was attended by prominent NDC figures, including the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who represented John Dramani Mahama. Several national and regional NDC executives were present, including First National Vice Chairman Chief Sofo Azorka. The launch was also attended by Members of Parliament such as Edward Bawa (Bongo East), Muntaka Mubarak (Asawase), Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala (Tamale Central), and Alhassan Suhuyini (Tamale North), alongside former government officials such as Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong.
As the December elections draw nearer, Iddrisu’s campaign is expected to play a significant role in rallying support for the NDC in one of its key strongholds.
Source: InsiderGH.com
