THE flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, NPP National Chairman, together with other party big wigs yesterday embarked on a nationwide tour dubbed “All-hands-on-deck” to press home the need for unity among the rank and file of the party after last Saturday's successful parliamentary primaries.
In trying to achieve the NPP's ultimate aim of securing victory in 2012, the party's leadership has stressed the need for national, regional, constituency and polling station executives, parliamentary candidates, and the entire membership of the party to ensure a united front to ensure the party's aim is achieved.
However, it has emerged in recent days that some members of the party, apparently dissatisfied with events of Saturday's primaries and some who are also harbouring discontent from 2008, have decided to contest as Independent candidates.
It is incumbent on the leadership of the NPP not to encourage these independent candidates because they will surely break the front of the party and ultimately result in defeat for the party in 2012.
The party must put a stop to this “forgive and forget” business of granting general amnesty to party members who go independent.
The prospects of the NPP losing seats it holds to independent candidates are real, especially in swing constituencies. If these seats are not lost to independent candidates, the NDC stands a greater chance of picking up these seats because of the divided front which will be presented by the party in these constituencies.
Potential members who wish to sponsor such disgruntled independent candidates must also desist from doing so. This will only end up destroying the party and wrecking its chances of victory in 2012
Before the primaries, the New Statesman urged all winners and losers to come together and form a united front to ensure the NPP maintains its current numbers in Parliament, win all seats lost to the NDC in 2008 and make sure it gains extra seats needed to ensure a complete victory in 2012.
In Saturday's primaries, and as it always does, the New Patriotic Party used the “first past the post system”. This means that there were candidates who won but with minority votes, which is very normal.
Analysis conducted by The New Statesman indicates that out of the 220 parliamentary candidates selected, 27 candidates failed to obtain 50%+ votes. This represents 12.3% of candidates elected.
These constituencies include Akim Oda, New Juaben South, Mpraeso, Ahanta West, Juaboso, Amenfi Central, Shama, Builsa North, Cape Coast, Trobu amasaman, Ledzokuku, Adenta, Dormaa East, Asunafo North, Pru, Tain, Sene, Walewale, Damongo Daboya, Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa,Agona West, Gomoa East, Effiduase Asokore, Kumawu, Nsuta Kwamamg and Asawase.
Candidates in these constituencies obviously failed to get the majority of delegates to vote for them, the more reason why they need to reach out to bring everyone on board.
All parliamentary candidates have to be guided by the fact that they can be winners some day in the future. NPP delegates have shown time and again that they are discerning. And in this regard, the losers must take heart, campaign for winners and remember that they will be rewarded in future.
President Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo were at one time in their political careers defeated in primaries, but they worked hard for the party by showing loyalty and dedication. Party delegates realised this and rewarded them.
They showed that there is value in accepting defeat and with patience, hardwork and dedication the party's delegates rewarded them.
All NPP members must be guided by the examples of these two gallant party leaders and demonstrate real loyalty to the cause of the party.
