Director of research and elections for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has in an interview revealed that no party executive has the prerogative of making particularly any sitting member of parliament contest the upcoming primaries unopposed.
Allaying some fears people have with such party activities, Mr. Nimako said that per the directive of the party’s National Executive Council, nominations are to be opened in the 168 constituencies where elections are going to be held. The only exception here is the that of the Ayawaso-West Wuogon constituency where per the party’s laws, anyone who comes fills a seat through a by-election is allowed to go into the next elections uncontested.
“Like to our general secretary has clearly pointed out, what the National Executive Committee approved of is that there 169 constituencies where we have sitting members of parliament. Apart from Ayawaso-West Wuogon where we got an MP through a by-election where such a candidate will not be contested as part of the party’s conventions, there are now only 168 constituencies left. Nominations are opened in all 168 constituencies. So if a certain member of parliament has worked hard and his or her people feel that that is the person they still want to run with, there are no party laws against that. We are looking at the delegates to decide who we are running with. Party leaders have not made any arrangements to impose a candidate on any constituency. We believe that all our MP’s have worked but that does not mean that anyone can come and say that because you have done well go unopposed” he said
According to Mr. Nimako, measure have been put in place to prevent any form of manipulations. He said that “nominations are very open so we are expecting a very transparent process” adding that It is only the national executive committee that can come with a decision as to the reason(s) why someone cannot run for the position.
The forms, he said are only sold by the constituency parliamentary vetting committee “so there’s no way anyone can keep the forms in their homes and sell them”.
Vetting is from 28th February to the 8th of March and who is unhappy about some of the things that go on per the party’s arrangements can present their case to the National Parliamentary Appeals committee. “You’d also realize that every committee that has been set up has a lawyer as part to help ensure that everything goes on smoothly…our aim is to do things that will deepen the internal democracy reason for the measures taken.” he added.
Delegates expected to vote in the upcoming primaries are a composition of electoral area executives,polling station executives, constituency executives, regional executives as well as council of elders and patrons in the constituency who have to select five people each to join the afore mentioned executives as delegates. People who are part of the founding of the party also come as expected delegates.
