A political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Abdul-Jalilu Ateku, has questioned the validity of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) requirement for flagbearer aspirants to sign an undertaking not to resign from the party if they lose the primary.
Dr Ateku argued that if the elections are not conducted in a free and fair manner, aspirants may still choose to resign, making the commitment invalid.
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All four aspirants competing in the NPP's flagbearer election have complied with this commitment, following discussions with the National Council of Elders and the aspirants.
Dr Ateku emphasized the importance of conducting a free and fair election to ensure that all candidates are content with the election's outcome.
“If political parties want to keep people, then they must do things that will make the party attractive, rather than trying to force people,” Dr. Ateku said.
He added, “People will still leave if they do not organize credible elections. If people lose and they realize that they lost because someone procured the elections fraudulently, people will leave, and they cannot do anything about it.”
Dr Ateku's comments come as the NPP prepares for its presidential primaries on Saturday, November 4.
The four aspirants, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Former Agriculture Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh, and Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, have all signed the undertaking.
The decision to require the undertaking was reached at a meeting between the National Council of Elders and the aspirants.
The General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Koduah, stated that the aspirants have also agreed to accept the results of the primary and to put the interest of the party first.
They have also committed to “ensure and enforce mechanisms that have been established by the party and work within the timelines and duration that have been established by the party from now until the results are declared and to respect the decision of the delegates of our party.”
