NPP showdown in court today over date for presidential primaries

Lawyers for the opposition New Patriotic Party are expected in court later today to defend the party's decision to fix its presidential primary for 18 th October.

The plaintiffs who are card-bearing members of the party, Rexford Agyei Frimpong and Opong Kyekyeku, say the October 18 date is a violation of the party's constitution, adding the date favours Nana Akufo-Addo, the lead contender in the race.

They also argue the time is too short to allow other candidates to effectively reach out to the more than 140,000 delegates who will be voting across the country.

The suit comes shortly after Alan Kyerematen and Addai Nimoh, who are contesting the presidential slot, made calls for a review of the date for the election to elect a flagbearer to lead the part in the 2016 general elections.

Two months ago flagbearer hopefuls Alan Kyeremanten and Francis Adai Nimo signed a petition asking for the rescheduling of the congress.

This will be the second time the party has been to court in the run up to the election of a flagbearer.

Last August, the Fast track High Court dismissed an application for an interim injunction against the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Special Delegates Congress.

This was after the plaintiff David Hoezame and his lawyers failed to turn up for the hearing.