In a spirited comeback, Martin Andonye, a seasoned two-term chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Nadowli/Kaleo constituency, has announced his candidacy for the chairmanship race once again. Heading the “Andonye Team,” he positions himself as the grassroots leader poised to rescue the party from declining voter support and waning youth enthusiasm after its “all-time embarrassing” performance in the 2024 elections.
Andonye, affectionately known as the “professor and doctor” of the constituency’s political game, served two terms as chairman before an unsuccessful third-term attempt.
Sources close to him reveal he initially eyed a regional executive position, but party leaders at both regional and national levels urged him to stay and “salvage” the NPP locally.
“He has dedicated years of time and resources to sustaining and strengthening the NPP,” reads the team’s official Notice of Intent, emphasizing his role in opposition where he “infused our Elephant Party with tenacity and dynamism,” leading to unprecedented increases in parliamentary votes.
The Andonye Team, assembled through “rigorous consultation with various stakeholders including elders,” boasts experienced hands to drive unity and hard work. Key contenders include Anthony Blandy, popularly known as Shango—a former assistant constituency secretary—who is vying for the secretary role. Nana Mozea, a longstanding party communicator, aims to lead communications.
The team promises broad grassroots support to position the NPP “on a strong political pedestal for greater victories ahead.”
“This constituency election is not merely about leadership; it is about positioning the NPP on a strong political pedestal for greater victories ahead,” the statement declares.
Andonye pledges intensified engagements with delegates as Election Day nears, committing to listen to concerns and seek mandates “for the greater good of the NPP.”
Andonye faces formidable rivals in a race described by pundits as wide open. Leading the charge is Team Kontomah, headed by Joseph Dassah Kontomah, a “vociferous, energetic communicator” popular among the grassroots.
The incumbent second vice chairman, Hon. Gyilnaa Blaise—an elected assembly member for the Sankara electoral area—is seen as affable and not to be overlooked.
Another strong entrant is Hon. Felix B. Danaah, a “die-hard” NPP loyalist credited with the potential to bridge known political factions within the constituency.
With the NPP at a “crossroads” in Nadowli/Kaleo, Andonye and his team vow to restore the party to power through unity. “Martin, unity and hard work will restore our path to power,” the notice asserts, signaling a fierce contest ahead.
