NEWSPOLITICAL

NPP NEC meets today over Boakye Agyarko, Addai-Nimo

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is actively addressing the impasse arising from the tie between Boakye Agyarko and Addai Nimo in the NPP super delegates congress to get the five flagbearer finalists for the November 4 congress showdown.

Addressing journalists after a Presidential Election Committee meeting with the respective aspirants yesterday, the NPP Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim, expressed the party’s concern over the current deadlock and outlined possible ways to find a resolution.

Mr Ntim noted that the primary option being considered is for one of the candidates to graciously concede in favor of the other.

The meeting saw in attendance representatives of these flagbearer hopefuls, with the exception of two aspirants, namely Kwadwo Poku and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who came in person.

The discussions centred around reported infractions and incidents that occurred at various voting centers across the country, especially the North East Region.

The tie

The NPP Chairman further indicated both Boakye Agyarko and Addai Nimo had signaled their readiness to proceed to a runoff election if necessary.

“The party is now thinking about how to resolve the tie between the two. We don’t know how it’s going to end but we’ll ensure that a finality is reached. The Presidential Election Committee will do what is in the supreme interest of the party,” he stated.

Mr Ntim emphasised that ongoing conversations with both Boakye Agyarko and Addai Nimo will continue in the lead-up to Saturday, with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable solution.

In line with this measure, Mr Ntim announced that an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting is set to take place today. He explained the meeting will focus on addressing the issues arising from the super delegates congress and ensuring a smooth path forward for the party’s flagbearership process.

Addressing the matter of alleged vote buying, Chairman Ntim stated that he is not aware of any such incidents.

Misconduct

He acknowledged that some degree of misconduct is inevitable in any election but assured that if any wrongdoing is substantiated through investigation, the party leadership will take appropriate action.

Recommendations

A member of the Presidential Election Committee and spokesperson of the Committee, Alexander Afenyo Markin said, “the committee had made certain recommendations, and such recommendations are contained in a document we are forwarding to NEC through to National Council. As you may be aware, the General Secretary has put out a public notice that NEC and National Council are going to meet on Wednesday, for now let’s wait for NEC and National Council to meet, and I am quite sure that the final decision regarding the way forward on the decision to be taken after the outcome of the elections on run-off will be communicated to the public.”

According to him, though the committee understands that elections could sometimes trigger emotions, it is expected that the aspirants act within the confines of the law.

He, therefore, maintained that members, aspirants and agents who wage ‘war’ against the party, especially by attacking any leading member, or any leader merely for disagreeing with a particular issue or because there was an infringement they consider to be wrong, will be sanctioned.

Mr Afenyo Markin advised members of the party to be mindful of their conduct as members and desist from casting aspersions, insinuations as well as making unfounded allegations, and work in unison as members of one party with common aspirations.

“It is important for us to state that this is a family affair, we have set down rules of engagement, and we have also put in place a mechanism to ensure that grievances are heard and responses given. We therefore expect all aspirants who have grievances to channel such grievances through the laid down rules. We as election committee have this mandate to look into all matters of concern, we therefore call on agent assigns and principals themselves to respect such rules,” he added.

He further called on all aspirants and members of the party, representatives, and assigns to channel their grievances using the appropriate forum as discussed during the committee’s meetings with them before the elections, in order not to undermine their integrity as well as that of the party.

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