The New Patriotic Party has recorded significant interest in its upcoming national executive elections, with 40 of the 50 aspirants who obtained nomination forms having completed the filing process.
Director of Research and Elections of the NPP and Secretary to the National Elections Committee, Evans Nimako, disclosed that the level of participation demonstrates enthusiasm among party members as the internal elections approach. The party has already completed elections at the polling station, electoral area, constituency and regional levels, leaving the national executive elections as the final stage of its internal reorganisation.
Evans Nimako explained that the national elections are scheduled to take place in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region from October 2 to 4, when delegates will choose the officers who will oversee the party’s affairs. He described the progress of the electoral process as encouraging, noting that the participation recorded so far had given the organising committee confidence in the exercise.
“For us as a party, the committee put together by the National Executive Committee and National Council is so far pleased with developments so far. We appreciate the level of enthusiasm and the support that the party members have shown.”
Evans Nimako
Beyond the numbers, the party views the internal elections as an important mechanism for completing the selection of a leadership team capable of guiding its activities ahead of the next general election. The Director of Elections indicated that the exercise was intended to produce national officers who would consolidate the party’s organisational structures and advance its political objectives.
The NPP is also looking ahead to the 2028 presidential election, with the elections committee expecting the incoming national leadership to contribute to the party’s campaign and organisational efforts. According to the Director of Research and Elections, the party’s objective is to position itself to support the presidential ambitions of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
He noted that the completion of the internal elections would provide the party with a full complement of elected leadership from the grassroots to the national level. Meanwhile, the strong interest in the national positions has been interpreted by the elections secretariat as evidence of sustained engagement among party members.
Mr Nimako stressed that the process was not simply about filling vacant positions but about selecting leaders who would assume responsibility for steering the party through its next phase. The elections at the lower levels have already provided the foundation for the national contest, with delegates now preparing to participate in the final stage of the exercise.
Consequently, attention has shifted towards the national elections, where the outcome will determine the officers responsible for administering the party’s affairs at the highest organisational level. The elections secretariat is expected to continue working with the various aspirants as the process moves towards the vetting stage and ultimately the national delegates’ conference.
NPP Extends Filing Period As National Aspirants Face Vetting
The New Patriotic Party has extended the deadline for filing nominations for its national executive elections by two days following strong interest from members seeking to contest various positions.
Director of Research and Elections of the NPP and Secretary to the National Elections Committee, Evans Nimako, explained that the extension is intended to give aspirants who purchased nomination forms sufficient time to complete the filing process. The original deadline was August 27, but the elections committee adjusted the timetable to allow the interested candidates to submit their documents within the party’s established arrangements.
Mr Nimako indicated that the extension is also to ensure that the filing process is conducted in an orderly manner and that prospective candidates have adequate opportunity to complete the requirements. The revised schedule places the final day for filing on Saturday 29th August, after which the vetting committee will begin assessing the eligibility of the aspirants.
Vetting is scheduled to run from August 31 to September 3, during which the candidates will appear before the committee for consideration. At this stage, the focus will shift from the submission of nomination documents to determining whether the aspirants satisfy the requirements for contesting the various national positions.
The elections secretariat has indicated that the vetting process will be guided by several legal and institutional frameworks, including provisions of the Political Parties Act. Mr Nimako explained that the party would also consider the relevant provisions of the 1992 Constitution, particularly Article 94, alongside its own constitution, rules and regulations.
“The requirements for leadership at this level shall be the same as those required of a person seeking to become a Member of Parliament.”
Evans Nimako
In addition, the committee is expected to examine the individual circumstances of each aspirant against the rules established for the internal elections. The process will involve direct engagement with the candidates, with the elections secretariat having already communicated the relevant schedules to those expected to appear.
Evans Nimako described the exercise as an in-house process designed to provide an opportunity for the committee and aspirants to address the necessary issues before the elections. He also stressed the party’s commitment to conducting the vetting on what he described as a level playing field, with transparency forming part of the arrangements for the exercise.
As a result, prospective candidates are expected to appear personally before the committee rather than have their eligibility determined solely through submitted documentation. The completion of vetting will pave the way for the next stages of the internal elections as the party prepares to select its national officers.
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