NPP race: Second primaries needless – Isaac Osei

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Isaac Osei, believes it will be a total waste of resources for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to go for second primaries after Sunday’s super delegates’ conference to elect a flagbearer.

The main opposition heads to conference on August 31 to reduce the number of presidential aspirants from seven to five in accordance with its constitution. However, that provision of the party's constitution appears not to have gone down well with some party stalwarts, who argue that a one-off congress will save the NPP a lot of energy.

The Subin MP also feels that is the best way to go since Sunday’s Super Delegates Conference represents the voice of the leadership. He said whoever gets an “overwhelming” votes should be declared the flagbearer for the 2016 elections.

“I think if anyone gets 15% and is second, there is no need to go for a second phase in October,” Osei told the Daily Guide newspaper.

“For peace to prevail, I will suggest that the losing candidates should rally behind the winner with an overwhelming endorsement because the leaders of the party who are the Super Delegates have spoken.”

However, the legislator added: “But if the Sunday event is a close election, then it is useful to go to the next stage where we have to cut down the number to a maximum of five candidates.”

He said he decided not to join the flagbearership race of the NPP because he did not want to add up to the number.

“My assessment shows I am not going to win since I know the pattern will not be different from that of 2012.”

Asked whether he supports a particular candidate, Osei said: “That is not my style. Some of us should become channels for inter party dialogue which will help us preserve the unity of the party.”

“It would be the responsibility of the winner to bring the others on board so that they can go round the country and assure the people within the constituencies that NPP is united as ever and this will assist us calm matters,” the former chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) said.