Scores of delegates and supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party in Akropong Constituency of the Eastern Region on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, protested against the disqualification of two aspirants who were contesting the incumbent Member of Parliament, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah.
The two – Lawyer Philip Addison and William Agyei Twumas were part of 15 aspirants disqualified out of 79 vetted by the vetting Committee in the Eastern Region last week.
Dr. Eric Danquah who addressed the media after the protest walk at Akropong said, the incumbent MP has become unpopular within the party and among the electorates at large, therefore it would be suicidal for the NPP to impose her on the constituency.
They warned that the NPP may lose the seat if the MP is not subjected to contest in the primaries.
“Apart from the fact that it is undemocratic, our fortunes in the upcoming national election are going to suffer a huge deficit with the incumbent MP going unopposed and becoming a candidate for the general election. As we speak, there is uneasy calm among the constituents who are members of our party and it would take the reinstatement of Mr. Addison to contest the primaries to bring calm.”
They called on the National Vetting Committee to allow all the aspirants to contest the primaries. They contended that Lawyer Addison has been contributing immensely to the party in the constituency, therefore, described mind-boggling claims that he has not natured the party well. They stated further that, Lawyer Philip Addison deserves better considering his role as lead counsel during the 2012 election petition for the NPP.
“it is with deep regret that we the delegates who have signed this petition say to your office that if you do not as soon as possible consider our petition by reverting this dangerous decision to disqualify Mr. Philip Addison, we would be left with little option, but we shall determine which person should represent us in the next four years from this constituency. We shall only be available to work hard for the party only if there is a fair contest.”
However in a swift rebuttal, the Constituency Organizer of the Party, Emmanuel Appienti alleged that the group deceived some delegates to sign the petition. He said only a handful of the polling station executives genuinely signed the petition.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
