The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is expected to hold its parliamentary primaries in the Klottey Korle and Okaikoi South constituencies in a few hours.
However, there are serious doubts over whether the elections, particularly in Klottey Korle will come off as planned after the Electoral Commission (EC) revealed to Citi News that they had been informed the election in the constituency would take place next weekend.
[contextly_sidebar id=”dloV1KCFyscaw775n1Onmf4jgDDFMfxm”]A case seeking to place an injunction on the elections was dismissed by an Accra Fast track court last week paving the way for the polls to be held in the constituency.
The NPP in a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary on Friday that “per the court ruling dismissing injunction applications, parliamentary primaries will be held in the following constituencies [Klottey Korle and Okaikoi South] this coming Sunday, 2nd august, 2015,”
However, the decision to hold the elections just two days after the ruling has provoked some criticism from several members of the party, including one of the aspirants, Philip Addison.
Addison said on Eyewitness News that the news of Sunday’s election came as a surprise to him as it had been agreed in a meeting with the regional executives of the party that staging the elections this weekend would “not be appropriate.”
“I don’t know what happened because we had a meeting with stakeholders. We took a decision which we said was binding on all of us so I don’t know what happened. I consider this to be very disrespectful,” he lamented.
He pointed out that it will be very difficult for aspirants to mount a vigorous campaign ahead of the elections, considering the short notice given to them.
“It is going to be difficult mobilising for the elections. We have to buy a few things and we may not have the resources to do that.”
Elections suspended
The election was scheduled to take place a week ago but was suspended after some aggrieved members of the party secured an interim injunction.
The motion was served after one of the main contenders, Nii Noi Nortey was accused of presenting fake certificates to the Vetting Committee of the NPP.
The aspirant is alleged to have presented a certificate from the University of Ghana which some have claimed was not authentic – claims Nii Nortey says “have no merit.”
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana