The race for the flagbearship position of the opposition National Democratic Congress is getting tighter as a front runner in the race, Professor Joshua Alabi, is seeking shelter from the party's grassroot.

The move has been necessitated after news broke that about 94 National Democratic Congress Members of Parliament have thrown their weight behind the candidature of former President John Mahama ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.

According to Builsa South lawmaker Clement Apaak, the MPs have signed a document declaring their support for the former President who led the party in the 2016 defeat.

It has been suggested that the MPs have even formed a group called MPS4JM (Members of Parliament for John Mahama) with the full support of their constituents.

Reacting to the news, a member of the campaign team of the former University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Rector, Israel Venunye said in a press statement indicated that the flagbearship position will be determined by the party's grassroot.

The statement read; “…We have not lost sight of the fact that the next flag bearer election, as it stands now, will largely be decided by the grassroots of our great party – the branch and constituency executives who will also determine the fate of MPs in their next parliamentary primaries,”

It added;  “development does not come to us as a surprise, especially when one considers the fact that most of these MPs were hitherto appointees in the last NDC government, with quite a number of them retiring from parliament after 2020. We have always anticipated such a natural occurrence in the party”.

Mr Israel Venunye stressed that: “The NDC has presence in all 275 constituencies in Ghana, with many of the supporters having fully embraced Professor Joshua Alabi's cardinal message of putting the grassroots at the centre of governance, thereby bridging the yawning gap between the party and government”.

For him, “The soul and strength of the great NDC party is vested in the branch and constituency executives who wield the real power and we shall continue to touch base with them”.

He said in line with “the Professor Joshua Alabi Team's philosophy, a strong NDC depends on stronger branches and constituencies; and we wish to assure the rank and file of the party, supporters and well-wishers of our resolve to entrench grassroots recognition and participation in the decision making process of our party as opposed to the top-to-bottom approach”.

Mr. Mahama who is likely to contest the flagbearer slot for the umbrella family will have to beat competition from former UPSA vice chancellor Professor Joshua Alabi, Second deputy speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, former NHIA boss Sylvester Mensah and his former Trade minister Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah.