The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is meeting today to finalise its parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election, officials say.
According to the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP, Divine Otoo Aghorhom the party is opting for internal consultations rather than open primaries following the death of the sitting lawmaker.
Clarity
He said the National Executive Committee (NEC) had approved the formation of a committee to conclude the process after he briefed NEC on the constituency’s position last week.
“I made a presentation about the party’s position at the constituency level to NEC, and NEC took a decision that we constitute a committee to look into it,” he said in an interview on Friday.
“That committee is meeting Monday, and in attendance will be our former General Secretary who will be of support.”
“We are contesting, but we will not run primaries like the NDC,” he further clarified.
Potential candidates
According to him, two potential candidates — a man and a woman — were considered, with constituency executives already backing one.
“From the constituency point of view they have settled on one candidate, and that name has been presented to the NEC,” he said. “The gentleman is the preferred choice of the constituency.”
He said the committee’s role was to formally endorse the candidate and begin wider engagement to unify party members ahead of the poll.
“By Monday we will decide on who is running on the ticket of the party, and then we start engaging everybody in the constituency to get everybody on board,” he added.
The Electoral Commission (EC) said on Friday it will hold a parliamentary by-election in the Ayawaso East constituency on 3 March following the death of the sitting lawmaker, Mahama Naser Toure.
In a statement dated 16 January, the EC said the seat had become vacant under Article 112(5) of the constitution, triggering the requirement for a by-election.
The commission said it will accept nominations from prospective candidates between 9 February and 11 February at its Ayawaso East Municipal Office in Accra.
Nomination forms will be available for download from the EC’s website from 16 January through 11 February.
Candidates or their representatives may submit completed forms to the constituency returning officer during the designated period, the commission said.
