|
Navrongo
NPP threatens defections if no primaries
Navrongo (UER), May 31, Ghanadot/GNA
- Some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the
Navrongo Central constituency have threatened to defect to
various parties if the party did not reverse its decision to
impose Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, the incumbent MP on them.
They said the party believed in internal democracy and
expressed worry and disappointment in the leadership of the
party for not allowing people to contest the primary but
"wrongfully" disqualified the two other contestants at the
last minute.
Speaking in separate interviews with the GNA in Navrongo at
the weekend Madam Vida Azumah, a concerned sympathiser of
the party said the disqualification of Mr. Abdallah Otito
Achuliwor and Professor John Kaburise from the race had
sparked tension in the constituency.
She said the tension had brought about disunity in the party
and indicated that more than 70 party delegates had planed
to resign and join other parties
if primaries were not conducted.
"Some of us are so worried that a party that believes
strongly in democracy is now creating an avenue for the
enemy to capitalise on it and score a cheap political
points," she said.
Madam Azumah therefore called on the National Executive of
the party to intervene in the matter to ensure that the
right thing was done to bring all
the aggrieved parties back for total unity to retain the
seat and to win the December election.
Mr. Charles Kaba, a member of the party alleged that there
were external forces from Accra and Bolgatanga who
manipulated the electoral process to ensure that Mr. Adda
contested the seat unopposed.
He described the situation as unfortunate and expressed
fears that many party members would lose confidence in the
NPP and vote against the party in
the December polls.
Others who pleaded anonymity told the GNA that Mr. Joseph
Adda had lost popularity in the constituency and would not
retain the seat without the support of all members.
They said there was the needed for a more formidable person
to challenge the NDC's strong candidate, adding that people
had built the party and won souls from the People's National
Convention (PNC) and expressed regret that few individuals
were destroying the party for their personal interests.
Mr. William Aduni, NPP Navrongo Central Constituency
secretary told the GNA that the other two contestants were
disqualified based on the party's Constitution.
He said article 4, (h) of the party Constitution, made it
clear that, "A member who joins or declares his or her
adherence to another political party automatically forfeits
his or her membership of the party..."
Mr. Aduni said, Mr. Abdallah Otito Achuliwor was
disqualified based on that basis since he resigned from the
party and stood as an Independent Candidate in the 2004
elections and that he rejoined the party through a letter of
pardon in November 2007 and was not up to the required
mandatory two years before he could be a full member to
contest for elections.
On the part of Professor John Kaburise, former Vice
Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS),
Mr Aduni said the Professor also joined the party in 20th
November 2006 and had a party membership card number
(0151274), and was not also up to two years in the party.
He said article 11 of the NPP same Constitution, which talks
about selection of Parliamentary candidates clause 4, again
says, "No member shall be entitled to apply for nomination
as the party's Parliamentary candidate in any constituency
unless he or she is a known and active member for at least
two years."
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdallah Otito Achuliwor has threatened to
either collaborate with Professor Kaburise for one of them
to contest against the party or support the NDC to win the
elections.
He told the GNA that though he stood Independent, Mr. Mac
Manu, NPP National Chairman granted a general amnesty to all
those who broke away from the party to go independent and
expressed regret that the party failed to ensure that the
amnesty worked.
He said; "How do you say you have disqualified us without
serving us with letters to give reasons for our
disqualification." He challenged the party that if they had
confidence in Mr. Joseph Adda, they should call on the
delegates for acclamation to see if Mr. Adda would be
confirmed.
Mr. Tahiru Isshaku Ahmed, Upper East Regional Chairman of
the party also expressed fears that the situation would
cause the party's defeat in the constituency, if the problem
was not solved amicably before the December polls and
expressed the hope that he would personally dialogue with
them to rally behind the party for victory.
GNA
|
