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Director of Elections of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has said the number of "No" votes President John Mahama had signifies that the party's internal election was transparent,free and fair.

Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM'S 'kokrokoo' programme Monday morning, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo said no one was forced to vote for any candidate against their will.

"..It is good we have seen that even in our own party during elections some members have exercised their franchise that they don't want President Mahama to lead us, and that is just a small number," he said.

He told Kwami Sefa Kayi that the 'No' votes were not too significant but very significant in the extent that "the process was not stage- managed, it was not massaged, it was open and transparent and we respect those who even said no".

This was after President John Mahama secured an overwhelming 1,199, 118 'Yes' votes representing 95.10 per cent from party members in a presidential primaries held on Saturday and Sunday.

The President went into the contest unopposed but had to be endorsed per the rules of the party.

Out of a total of 1, 286 728 party members who cast their votes, 61,836 voted 'No' in relation to President Mahama’s candidature in 265 out of 275 constituencies. The "No" votes represented 4.90 per cent of a total 1, 260 954 valid votes cast.

Rejected ballots representing 2 per cent were 25,774.

President Mahama is seeking a second term, having won the 2012 presidential elections.