Flagbearer elect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, says he expects that lessons picked from the party’s 2016 defeat will help them recapture power in 2020.

He was speaking during a brief meeting at the NDC Headquarters which was attended by the six other aspirants in the party’s presidential primary and national executives of the party.

Prof Joshua Alabi, Mr Ekwow Spio-Gabrah, Mr Sylvester Mensah, Mr Nurudeen Iddrisu, Mr Alban Bagbin and Mr Goosie Tanoh all contested the slot but lost to Mr Mahama.

At a meeting with the defeated aspirants, Mr Mahama said: “One of our attitudes going into 2016 is a certain lack of unity. We didn’t go in together as one. So, I think this initiative will smoothen over any issues and differences and moving together as one into the battle of 2020 enhances our opportunities and chances of clinching the victory for our great party”.

The losing candidates were graceful in defeat despite concerns going into the election that Mr. Mahama was being favoured by the party.

The build-up to the primary was marked by contentions over filing fees and misgivings about the guidelines for the polls.

But when it became clear that Mr. Mahama was on his way to the victory the other aspirants conceded defeat even before the official declaration of the results.