The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed a request submitted by nine candidates that the party’s election on August 26, be centralized.

With Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia excluded, the nine other candidates for the Flagbearer position of the NPP made the case that a centralized poll would be more transparent and effective.

They emphasized that they did not agree with the proposal to limit regional voting to only 900 delegates. However, at a crucial meeting, the National Council rejected the petition that sought to put the party’s constitution into effect.

Justin Koduah, the NPP’s General Secretary explained to reporters that the party will proceed with its planned decentralized election. According to its constitution, the NPP will reduce its list of potential Presidential candidates from ten to five, on August 26. The party claimed that a fresh registration will be required because some of the delegates have already passed away.

Prior to that, Justin Koduah had promised that the new registration would 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.”
Justin Koduah

Bawumia Not Opposed To Petition

Miracles Dennis Aboagye, the spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign team, made it clear that his boss was not opposed to the request for centralization of the August 26th special delegates’ congress made to the NPP leadership by the remaining nine flagbearer candidates.

The Vice President, according to Mr. Aboagye, is apathetic and was willing to abide by any choice made by the National Council of the party.

“The Vice President’s position is to accede to whatever guidelines and decision that the National Council will come up with. The Vice President is indifferent.”
Miracles Dennis Aboagye

As stated by Miracles Aboagye, the Vice President was indifferent since he was a National Council member and hence, was unable to serve as both a “player” and a “referee” simultaneously to make sure the proper thing was done.

Moreover, Mr Aboagye emphasized that Dr. Bawumia and his team would not support any propaganda meant to make his candidacy or message unpopular because they were devoted to selling it to the delegates.

“Once you begin to say that the party must take a decision according to how you feel, you begin to create problems for the party; which has the potential of disorganizing the party.
“These are issues that Dr. Bawumia does not want to discuss because he is busy with the delegates and the polling station executives. He is not ready to engage in casting insinuations and name-calling. And this issue of trying to say that anyone following the Vice President is a coward, is laughable.”
Miracles Dennis Aboagye