The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has granted its flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, additional time to choose a running mate for the 2024 general election.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Council (NC) took the decision during an emergency meeting held in Accra to deliberate on the potential running mates for the flagbearer.
The NPP’s constitution requires that a running mate be chosen at least 12 months before a general election if the party is not in government or the president is not the candidate.
However, the National Council, which has the power to make exemptions to the party’s rules, agreed with Dr Bawumia’s request to pick his running mate later.
In a press statement released on Thursday, December 7, the general secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said, “The National Council granted the Presidential Candidate an extended period to undertake broader stakeholder consultations and engagements aligned with Article 13(3) (2) of the Party’s constitution before nominating a Vice Presidential Candidate.”
Mr Frimpong also disclosed that the NEC resolved to shift the date of primaries for sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) from January 20 to January 27, 2024.
“Nominations for the Party’s Parliamentary Primaries Election for constituencies with incumbent Members of Parliament will open on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 and close on Monday, December 25, 2023.
“The date for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries in these constituencies has been rescheduled to Saturday, January 27, 2024.
“The party has banned all forms of campaigns until nominations are officially opened. Prospective aspiring parliamentary candidates and their supporters are prohibited from engaging with polling station executives and from organizing all forms of activities or programs in the constituency,” he added.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW;
For Immediate Release
December 7, 2023
DECISIONS ON NOMINATION OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES, AND MATTERS ARISING
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), at its National Executive Committee and National Council meetings held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, passed the following resolutions:
1. The National Council granted the Presidential Candidate an extended period to undertake broader stakeholder consultations and engagements aligned with Article 13(3) (2) of the Party’s Constitution before nominating a Vice Presidential Candidate.
2. Nominations for the Party’s Parliamentary Primaries Election for constituencies with incumbent Members of Parliament will open on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, and close on Monday, December 25, 2023.
3. The date for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries in these constituencies has been rescheduled to Saturday, January 27, 2024.
4. The party has banned all forms of campaigning until nominations are officially opened. Prospective aspiring parliamentary candidates and their supporters are prohibited from engaging with polling station executives and from organizing all forms of activities or programs in the constituency.
5. The Party shall impose stringent sanctions on any member found to have violated these guidelines.
6. Detailed guidelines for the parliamentary primaries will be published in due course.
7. Party members are reminded and encouraged to fulfil their membership dues obligations under Article 3 of the Party Constitution.
The leadership of the party reiterates its commitment to free, fair, and transparent parliamentary primaries and counts on the support of all stakeholders.
Justin Kodua Frimpong
GENERAL SECRETARY