The national executive body of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has defended its decision to suspend its June 13 Parliamentary primaries in 30 constituencies nationwide.
The Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahene on Eyewitness News said the decision was taken in the “supreme interest” of the party.
[contextly_sidebar id=”qoob1Fo9UG9zJohgj6DY2IsEB5M1gEZ1″]He argued that it is imperative for all misunderstandings to be addressed in those constituencies before the elections can take place there.
“The underlining reason is very simple. In the supreme interest of the party, there is the need to suspend the elections in 30 constituencies. That is all! These are the operative words: In the supreme interest of the party!” he said.
He stressed that there is the need to “iron out the differences, the wranglings, the misunderstandings, the complaints and what have you.”
The party in a statement on Thursday said it’s primaries which will see the election of Parliamentary candidates to represent the party in the 2016 general elections will take place as planned.
The statement nonetheless announced that some 30 constituencies in eight regions across the country will not have their elections but a later date will be provided for the exercise.
This has not been well received by some members of the party who are of the view that the elections are being delayed in favour of some incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) who are facing stiff opposition from some aspirants.
Mr. Obiri Boahene dismissed this claim saying, it is incorrect for people to perceive that the party leadership is serving the interest of any individual.
“This is not an attempt to protect somebody, an attempt to marginalize somebody, an attempt to let somebody be a mere pushover – no!…the interest of the party prevails higher than the interest of any single individual.”
“Once it is a human institution, certain decisions will be taken and it will not go in favour of some members of the party,” he argued.
The party’s Deputy General Secretary insisted that the leadership has not failed in fixing all these problems which has necessitated the postponement of the elections a few days to the primaries.
“It is not a question of the party having failed; it is a question of matters, issues, developments beyond the control of us as human beings. Certain developments have come up which warrants that we should postpone the elections in those 30 constituencies.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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