Mass defection to hit Juaben NPP over ‘disqualified MP aspirant’

Some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Juaben Constituency in the Ashanti region have threatened to quit the party, Dailymailgh.com has gathered.

The defection involves some executives and delegates in polling stations across the constituency over the reported disqualification of one of its parliamentary aspirants in the constituency, Francis Owusu Akyaw.

They are likely to make an open announcement about their decision at a later date, correspondent Jonathan Ofori, who has been following the development told Dailymailgh.com.

They cited reports that Mr Akyaw, who is contesting the seat for the third time, has been disqualified from the race, adding that the decision could jeopardize the party’s electoral fortunes in the general election.

The aggrieved party members also referred to chaotic controversies that continue to split the party’s support making it increasingly unattractive in the Constituency.

“We had resisted this unopposed agenda since it cropped up; we thought the party would have considered our plea to have both individuals contest for the seat but looking at how events are unfolding they just want to frustrate the aspirant and that is undemocratic,” a constituency executive told Dailymailgh.com.

He further stated: “Looking at how things are playing out many of us will quit. We are set to address the media later this week to make our position known. NPP is not worth dying for.”

The NPP is expected to conduct this year’s presidential and parliamentary primaries on June 20, 2020.

The election, which was earlier slated for April 25, 2020, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the country and the related restrictive measures announced by the President.

The party, at a meeting on Monday, June 1, agreed to hold the election in electoral areas rather than at the constituency level in order to ensure social distancing.

The National Executive Committee of the party had met on Wednesday to draw up modalities for the polls and also make final decisions on the various appeals it had received from some disqualified and disgruntled aspirants.

Suspension of polls

The party on April 14, 2020, suspended it's planned April 25, 2020, parliamentary primaries indefinitely in accordance with the President’s ban on public gatherings in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ghana.

NPP was to use the primaries to elect parliamentary candidates in constituencies where it has sitting Members of Parliament, ahead of the 2020 general elections.

Many parliamentary aspirants suspended their campaigns due to the decision.

But with the easing of some of the COVID-19 induced restrictions, some aspirants have resumed some level of campaign.