We merged all albums ahead of primary — NPP
The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has debunked allegations suggesting that two separate albums were used to conduct the Ablekuma West Constituency primary held on Saturday.
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Ahead of the parliamentary primary, 13 constituency executive members of the party, led by a former Constituency Chairman, Mr Theophilus Tetteh, announced their resignation from the party, a decision which came on the eve of the polls on Saturday.
Executive members resign
The 13 constituency executive members announced their resignation last Friday night on TV3’s News @10. Their resignation stemmed from a protracted disagreement over the constituency’s voters register.
Mr Tetteh’s withdrawal from the primary and the subsequent resignation of the executive members from the party, according to them, have been necessitated by the party’s National Executive Committee decision to allow two different registers to be used in the primary.
“We have all resigned!” the disgruntled executive members who stormed the studio of TV3 last Friday night announced.
“The NEC and Nana Akufo-Addo have taken a decision. They say if you don’t like it, you can leave the party. We have left the party for Nana Akufo-Addo and Ursula Owusu [Ekuful]. They should carry it!” Mr Tetteh said.
Merged albums
However, in a statement signed by the Director of Election for the NPP, Mr Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah, the party said: “Following the NEC’s decision of March 30, 2016, two albums were merged culminating in only one album and which was used in yesterday’s election.”
The statement further said it was, therefore, erroneous that after the merger, one would assume that Saturday’s polls were conducted based on two albums, since the problem was cured ahead of the election.
“The directorate congratulates delegates on a massive turnout as well as the aspirants on their cooperation which ensured a smooth, peaceful and successful election. Same goes to the Police Service and the Electoral Commission for their assistance,” the statement added.
NPP unfazed by resignation
Meanwhile, the Ablekuma West constituency First Vice Chairman of the party, Mr Kwesi Ofori, has described the resignation of the 13 constituency executive members as good riddance for the party.
According to him, the decision by the former executive members came as no surprise as their conduct ever since they were elected had not been in the best interest of the party.
Speaking to Kasapa News, Mr Ofori stated that the continued stay of the members in the party would have spelt doom for the party in the constituency come the general election in November.
Outcome
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful won the primary by polling 554 votes, representing 63.60 per cent, while Mr Robert Kwesi Hayfron polled 317, representing 36.40 per cent.
Total eligible voters were 1,168 but only 876 voted.
Rejected ballots were five and total percentage turnout was 75.
