NPP Suspends Nominations

Reports reaching DAILY GUIDE say the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has suspended opening of nominations for its aspiring parliamentary candidates for the crucial 2016 parliamentary election.

The decision, reportedly taken by the leadership of the party late yesterday, was to allow the National Council to deliberate on some thorny issues emanating from the party's directives, especially  the one barring males from contesting incumbent NPP female MPs.

The party's directive – preventing men aspiring to be NPP candidates in constituencies where the party has female MPs –  had sparked uproar within the rank and file of the leading opposition party.

In the ensuing confusion, party members even staged a demonstration at the party's Asylum Down head office in Accra to register their displeasure about the new directives which had come from the National Executive Committee (NEC).

A member of the party's National Council, Dr. Kwame Amoako Tuffour, confirmed to Accra-based Citi FM that the party decided to review the new directives because of the controversy they had sparked.

'The National Executive Committee had a meeting and what they deliberated upon sparked controversy outside – some for, some against. It appeared most people were against the decision so it becomes important that you call the higher body to sit on it and give its final word,' he underscored.

According to him, the Council would discuss the merits and demerits of the new directives  and vote on each of them accordingly.

He said NEC will review the directives if the polls indicate that most of the party members believe they are not favourable.

 By William Yaw Owusu