NPP To Replace Its Odododiodio Parliamentary Candidate

Intel picked up by the Daily Post indicates that the National

Executive Committee (NEC)of the

opposition NPP will hold a crisis meeting in Accra tomorrow, Saturday, June 21,

2012, to explore ways of replacing their Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the

Odododiodio Constituency in Accra.

The intended action follows a number of

findings that has come before the committee. According to the intel, the first

pressing reason behind the intended removal of the PC is the evidence on the

ground that he will be no contest for the NDC’s Nii Lantey Vanderpuije.

A petition from the Constituency executives

of the party to the NEC hold that apart from the fact that Nii Lantey Vanderpuije

is solid on the ground, Capt (rtd) Victor Okaikoi has not helped matters by

constantly travelling outside the country. As at the time of filing this

report, for example, he is said to be holidaying in the United States of

America with four months to go to the elections.

Apart from the unpopularity of Capt (rtd)

Okaikoi, according to the constituency executives, evidence they have gathered since

he was elected as the party’s PC for the constituency reveals that he holds an

American passport, which automatically means he is also a citizen of the United

States of America. This effectively means that he is not qualified to become an

MP in Ghana.

The straw that broke the camel’s back

and sent the executives running to the NEC of the party is the revelation that

Capt(rtd) Okaikoi has a criminal record

and is an ex-convict who has done time in jail in the United States for

Insurance fraud.

The constituency executives having

flagged the red light believe that the NDC is aware of these facts about their

PC and are only waiting for the right time to pounce on him to cripple the NPP

in the constituency.

Indications however are that the NEC of

the party are in for a torrid time as supporters of Capt (rtd) Victor Okaikoi

have vowed to resist any attempt to replace him. Legal luminaries the Daily Post

talked to on the matter hold

that the PC, having been elected by delegates of the party in the constituency

cannot be removed by the NEC or any other person or group of persons. The only

way forward is for the NEC to plead with him to step aside.

A former MP for the area, Nii Ayi Bonte

is being touted as the likely replacement for Capt (rtd) Victor Okaikoi