The loud cheers Former President John Dramani Mahama received at the venue of the the National Democratic Congress (NDC)National Delegates Congress on Saturday, 17 November does not translate to endorsement, one of the front runners of the party's flagbearership position Professor Joshua Alabi, has said.

According to the Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Mr. Mahama received the loud cheers because he is a former president and not because he is aspiring for the flagbearership slot.

Apart from Mr Mahama, former president Jerry John Rawlings also addressed the charged crowd of supporters.

Prof Alabi has, however, played down the significance of the cheers.

“The crowd cheered him on because he is a former president not as a flag bearer aspirant.

“We all acknowledge the work of our former presidents and, so, we all cheered on former presidents John Mahama and Jerry John Rawlings when they all spoke to the crowd. I am not perturbed at all”, Prof Alabi said.

He added: “I will win the flag bearer contest and make Nana Addo a one-term president because I have a message to the party and Ghanaians.”

Addressing delegates at the party’s congress in Accra last Saturday, Former President Mahama said “we have begun our journey back to the Jubilee House, and on my part, I can confidently promise you all that I shall continue to provide the needed support and encouragement on that journey, and it will not matter who the flag bearer of our party is.”

Mr. Mahama who has been tipped to win the flagbearership race by political commentators comes up against a lineup of aspirants which includes Former Vice Chancellor of the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Joshua Alabi, Nadowli Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah; a former Trade and Industry Minister; and Cape Coast South MP, and Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, Former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu who have declared their intent to contest for the slot.

Meanwhile, the NDC has slated December 7, 2018, for the election of its flagbearer for the 2020 presidential election.