A petition that was submitted by nine candidates of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopefuls to the National Council requesting that the party’s election on August 26 be centralized has been dismissed.
Without Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the nine candidates for flagbearer made the case that a centralized poll would be more transparent and effective.
The nine candidates are Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Kwadwo Poku, Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, Joe Ghartey and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
They emphasized that they did not agree with the proposal to limit regional voting to only 900 delegates.
However, the petition has been denied by the National Council at a crucial meeting on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Justin Koduah, the NPP’s general secretary, told journalists that the party will proceed with its planned decentralized election.
According to him, the party will reduce its list of potential presidential candidates from 10 to 5 on August 26.
The party claims that a fresh registration will be required because some of the delegates have already passed away.
Justin Koduah had earlier promised that the new registration will be available by the end of the week.
“We are in the final stage of doing the compilation. Basically, we are not going to exceed 1000 so between 900 and 1000 delegates will form the special electoral college.”
“Some of the founding members have died, so we have to take their names out. We also have to look at past national officers. I am sure before the week ends we should have the final list for the special delegates’ election,” he stated.
Meanwhile Dr. Bawumia’s spokesperson, Miracles Dennis Aboagye, has clarified that his boss was not opposed to the petition submitted by the remaining nine flagbearer candidates.
In an interview on Citi FM, Mr. Aboagye claimed that the Vice President was unconcerned and would abide by the National Council of the party’s decision.
“The Vice President’s role is to accept any rules and judgments that the National Council will make” he said.
