Polling station executives won’t be happy if… - K Agyepong

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has called for restraint on the part of party members who are calling on other flagbearership aspirants to stand down for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Most party members including external branches have impressed upon four candidates especially Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Francis Addai Nimoh to stand down for Nana Addo to be handed the mantle to lead NPP into the 2016 elections.

But speaking with TV3’s Kenneth Osei Ampofo on Monday, September 1, Mr Agyepong said the Special Electoral College (SEC) on Sunday, August 31 is an exercise indelibly imprinted in the constitution of the party and must be carried on since it is a process.

“We want to respect the dictates of our constitution,” Mr Agyepong told our reporter.

“We have gone through the first stage which is selecting the five who are allowed to carry on till the October 18 conference. That is what the constitution says.”

Mr Agyepong says any attempt to halt the two-stage process will fan disaffection within “the larger electoral body” which includes polling station executives.

According to NPP’s General Secretary, these executives will not be happy if “disenfranchised” since the revision of the electoral college from 2,000 to over 140,000 was to cover the grassroots.

“Let’s go through the process and see what happens.”

Nana Addo secured a massive victory in the special elections with his closest contender Alan Kyerematen trailing far behind.

Already, Joe Ghartey and Kofi Osei Ameyaw are reported to have stood down with pressure being mounted on Mr Addai Nimoh and Mr Kyerematen to follow suit.

Nana Addo led the NPP in the 2008 and 2012 elections but lost to late Professor John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama respectively.