Allowing Incumbent NPP MP’s To Run Unopposed Is A Recipe For Electoral Failure In 2016

We have observed with grave worry and displeasure the proposal by the national first vice chairman Freddie Blay that sitting NPP Members of Parliament should be made to retain their seats without going for primaries. We believe that such a proposal is unhealthy, unnecessary and aberrant to the spirit of justice and democratic competition that the party stands for.

It is important to note, that the performance of our Presidential candidate in every constituency will be heavily hinged on the level of popularity and acceptability of our Parliamentary Candidates. Therefore to deny the grassroot the opportunity elect the right Candidate will be tantamount to deliberately dwindling our electoral chances both in the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

It will be recalled that in 2008, the party stifled the attempt by some well qualified party persons who wanted to contest incumbent members of parliament. Fourteen of these frustrated aspirants contested as independent candidates and three out of them won their seats and also denied us victory in some constituencies that are fairly sympathetic to our party.

Again, after a post-mortem of the 2008 elections, it emerged that one of the reasons why we lost the 2008 elections was due to the poor manner in which parliamentary primaries were held. We therefore find it strange, that Mr. Freddie Blay doesn't seem to have learnt any lessons from that shortfall in 2008 elections.

Again, being a member of the National Executive Committee, he has at his disposal a very influential platform where he should channel his suggestions and opinions. Or him to have overlooked all this platforms and rather opt to present this awful proposition is most unfortunate.

To ensure effective grassroot mobilization to secure political power in 2016, it is important that the party presents winnable parliamentary candidates. This can only be achieved when there is room for fierce and healthy competition in the election of parliamentary representatives for our party and not when incumbents members of parliament are imposed on the party because of some parochial interest somewhere.

It is in our interest to adhere strictly to the constitution of our party:every qualified party member, who wishes to contest any incumbent, should be given the enabling environment and a fair opportunity to do so. This will forestall unnecessary post – primaries bickering and in-fighting which is unhealthy for our electoral chances in 2016.

We are therefore calling on the leadership of the party – Nana Addo, Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyapon and Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu to call on the Vice Chairman of the party to stop granting interviews on this topic to the media. We also call on them to ignore and dump this lousy proposal as quick as possible, because it is discriminatory, unfair and alien to the core values of democratic engagements .They should also hasten in instituting measures to promote a free, fair, competitive and transparent process in the upcoming Parliamentary primaries.

Signed.
Mustapha Samudeen, National Coordinator
0245112753/0263609842
Ridwan
0241176365
Kasim Musa-0578411055