Two presidential candidates for UFP …As sacked Odike, Kwaku Antwi pick presidential forms

From Simmons Yussif Kewura, Kumasi
The United Front Party (UFP) might present two presidential aspirants, in the persons of Mr. Akwasi Adae, popularly called Odike, and Mr. Kwaku Owusu Antwi, to the Electoral Commission.

Mr. Kwaku Owusu Antwi was recently elected the party’s presidential candidate at Cape Coast, following which both aspirants expressed their intentions of picking nomination forms to contest the presidential slot of the party in the December elections.
Odike, who a section of the membership of the UFP claim to have sacked from the party over corruption allegations, has already picked his presidential nomination form, claiming he was the legitimate flag bearer of the UFP.
But, information reaching The Chronicle indicates that Mr. Antwi, who the party elected a fortnight ago at Cape Coast to replace the beleaguered Addae, would also pick his form today.
According to Odike, according to the constitution of the party and that of this country, he was the right person to lead the UFP, and that was why the Electoral Commission (EC) had given him nomination forms to contest the December elections.
He maintained in an interview that EC was a body that works within the confines of the law, and for that matter, would not do anything to circumvent the peace and unity that exist in the UFP. He, therefore, advised all UFP members and supporters to rally behind him to win this year’s presidential election.
But, the National Chairman of the UFP, Mr. Agyenim Boateng, said Odike would not be accepted by the EC when he returns his completed form, adding, “Today, we are heading to the EC offices with our new flagbearer, Mr. Antwi, to pick his nomination form.”
He said, “Let’s wait and see who the EC would accept as our leader and flagbearer.”
According to the National Chairman, the party hasd hinted the EC about the dismissal of Odike, saying every Ghanaian had the right to pick a form from the EC, but the issue was on which party’s ticket he was going to contest.
Mr. Boateng described the stance of Odike as a contradictory move, because he had taken the party to court claiming a compensation of GH¢800,000 from the party’s hierarchy. He, therefore, wondered what Odike was looking for by hurriedly going to the EC to pick forms.
He described the current rumpus in the UFP as a challenge, but was optimistic that they would overcome them.
A a couple of months ago, deep cracks appeared in the UFP, when a section of the party’s executives claimed they had sacked Odike for alleged corruption practices and lack of transparency, among others.
Odike, on his part, downplayed his dismissal, claiming he was still the leader of the UFP, and that nobody can sack him.

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