Proposal For Aspirant Representation On Electoral Committee Will Not Happen

National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress says it will be impossible to constitute an electoral committee comprising representatives of all presidential aspirants.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight programme , Kofi Adams said the call made by presidential aspirant Prof Joshua Alabi’s campaign coordinator Victor Adawudu does not speak to directives given in the party’s constitution.

The Alabi campaign team fears the absence of such a committee will undermine the credibility of the election process.

But the National Organiser says they have chosen a wrong time to make the proposal.

"You cannot have an election committee that will have representatives of aspirants on it. It doesn’t work, it’s never been done. People are jumping the gun. They must read the party’s constitution and understand.

“If you have just come in trying to contest elections or trying to follow an aspirant, take your time and study the constitution of the party. Wait for Congress to be over, we will elect a leadership, that leadership will develop the regulations that will govern the elections of a flagbearer,” he added.

The leadership, once elected will be responsible for engaging with the aspirants on their concerns and recommendations for the elections, he explained.

Mr Adams finds the proposal fascinating and likened it all presidential candidates requesting for their representatives to be part of the Electoral Commission’s elections committee for national polls.

“Of course the Electoral Commission as part of their work will be engaging with aspirants or their parties from time to time and when the need arises.

“But you cannot have them sit in the committee as members of the committee, that will not work. That is a proposal that should not even be coming,” he stressed.

Prof Alabi’s camp in Mr Adams view is asking for the impossible and that “assuming all the 12 aspirants qualify, are you saying that we will have representatives of all these 12 persons, plus all the institutional representation on the electoral committee,” he queried.

That will be so huge and unhealthy, he added.
He believes there should be no cause for concern as the committee that will be set will be made up of persons from various sectors of the party.

He said the party’s constitution makes it clear who should be elected and assured that that process will be followed thoroughly.