Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has vehemently denied allegations suggesting he advocated for all sitting Members of Parliament for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to run unopposed in the upcoming parliamentary primaries.
Speaking during his nationwide engagement with party executives at the Tatale-Sanguli constituency in the Northern Region on Tuesday, October 24, Dr. Bawumia clarified that such a proposition contradicts the NPP’s constitution, emphasizing that he would never endorse such a move.
“The third lie I have heard this morning is that I went to say that all sitting MPs should go unopposed and nobody should contest a sitting MP. How can I say that? The party’s constitution cannot even allow that. This party is stronger when we have democracy working, and so I will never say any sitting MP must go unopposed,” Dr. Bawumia asserted.
He attributed these allegations to the tactics of his detractors, emphasizing that attempts to tarnish his reputation would prove futile.
“There must be consensus in any constituency, and so that lie should be left alone. But as I say, their tactic is that you miss the ball, don’t miss the man, but as for this, you will miss the man because we will not allow their lies to take root,” he declared defiantly.
The NPP is gearing up for its crucial November 4 polls to select a flagbearer for the 2024 elections. The Presidential Elections Committee has released guidelines outlining the transparent and fair procedures for the primaries across all 276 constituencies and the Party Headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra.
According to the guidelines, the Electoral Commission (EC) will supervise the elections to ensure their transparency. The Committee stressed that no individuals, whether party officials or otherwise, should act against the EC and the provided guidelines. Security measures will be exclusively handled by the police, and only authorized individuals, including delegates, Committee Members, and Contestants with accredited agents, will be allowed access beyond security perimeters.
Additionally, the guidelines stipulate that no campaign activities or canvassing for votes will be permitted one day before voting. Delegates must be accredited on a constituency-specific basis, and the media will receive accreditation for coverage.
The Committee emphasized that voting will occur in open spaces, allowing the public full visibility of the process. It is strictly prohibited for voters to wear campaign materials or be influenced by any individuals directing their vote. Any attempts to interfere with a delegate’s choice will result in removal by the police.