Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the current outgoing Majority Leader, has threatened to expose an NDC plot against Speaker Bagbin ahead of the 9th parliament of the 4th Republic.
During the live broadcast of the last sitting of the 8th parliament of the 4th Republic on Monday, 6th January 2025, monitored by Ghana Education News, Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s speech acknowledged influential figures from both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), whose support and mentorship shaped his political career.
However, Afenyo-Markin’s address became contentious when he spoke about the contributions of Speaker Alban Bagbin to the work of parliament over the last four years.
“Mr. Speaker has done a lot for the NDC,” Afenyo-Markin declared. “Even when many within his own party plotted against him, he stood firm and delivered for them.”
This statement from Afenyo-Markin was greeted with murmurs among NDC MPs present at the session. Members of the NDC parliamentary caucus expressed their frustration over the perceived diversion from the agenda of the day. Undeterred, Afenyo-Markin responded sharply with another comment, continuing on the tangent he had already taken.
He went on to say that if pushed, he would reveal the names of those who conspired to unseat Speaker Bagbin.
“Let me finish my speech. If you continue interrupting, I’ll be forced to reveal the names of those who conspired to unseat Speaker Bagbin,” he warned. His message and tone, a mix of resolve and defiance, were visible and felt in the way he spoke that day.
The reaction from the NDC indicated some division in parliament regarding Bagbin’s leadership and his renomination by President-Elect John Dramani Mahama as the Speaker of Parliament in the next session, which starts at midnight on January 7th.
Despite his affiliation with the party, Bagbin has faced criticism from factions within the NDC over his handling of key parliamentary issues, with some members allegedly advocating for his replacement.
Afenyo-Markin’s acknowledgment of Bagbin’s efforts served as a rare moment of bipartisan respect, albeit one cloaked in controversy. “Leadership requires courage, and Mr. Speaker has demonstrated that in abundance,” he added.
The reaction after Afenyo-Markin threatened to expose an NDC plot against Bagbin ahead of the 9th parliament has been described as a sign that there are elements in the NDC who are not excited about Speaker Bagbin leading the 9th parliament, to be constituted at midnight on 7th January 2025.
In a related development, Afenyo-Markin has been nominated by the New Partriotic Party as the minority leader in the 9th parliament of the 4th republic.
READ: Bagbin Urges Caution in 2024 Budget Approval
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