Bawumia Denies No Contest For Sitting MPs Claim

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has refuted claims that he has called for all sitting Members of Parliament for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to contest in the upcoming parliamentary primaries unopposed.

He says the NPP’s constitution does not even allow such a thing to take place therefore there was no way he could have said that.

Dr Bawumia, a flagbearer aspirant of the NPP ahead of the 2024 general elections,  said this is a ploy by his detractors to get at him but it will not work.

Speaking at Tatale-Sanguli constituency in the Northern Region on Tuesday, October 24  as part of his nationwide engagement with party executives ahead of the NPP Presidential Primary, Dr Bawumia said “The third lie I have heard this morning is that I want 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.”

He added “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.”

The NPP is preparing for its November 4 polls to elect a flagbearer for the 2024 elections.

The Presidential Elections Committee has already released the guidelines for the primaries that will take place at all the 276 constituencies across the country and the Party Headquarters, Asylum Down, Accra.

In a statement, the committee said the guidelines outlined the procedures and rules for the primaries that would elect a presidential candidate for the 2024 general election.

“The Electoral Commission (EC) shall supervise the conduct of the elections and shall have the full responsibility of ensuring a transparent, free and fair election. No persons, whether party officials or otherwise whatsoever shall act in contravention to the EC and these guidelines.”

The Committee added that “the security activities rest exclusively with the police and access beyond security perimeters is restricted to Delegates, Presidential Elections Committee Members, Contestants and their accredited agents. The Presidential Elections Committee of the Party is the entity with the Constitutional mandate from National Council to oversee the organization and conduct of the election for the Presidential Candidate,” the committee stated.

The committee also said that there shall be no campaign, canvassing for votes or gathering of party people for any purpose whatsoever a day before voting, adding that there shall be no camping of delegates, accreditation is constituency specific and that the media will be granted accreditation.

“Voters are expected to “walk in” freely by themselves. The physically challenged may be assisted. A voter must wait to be cleared before entering the perimeter- Queue Control. No voter shall wear the colour or effigy of a contestant at the voting center (i.e. T-shirts, cap, posters of contestants). Delegates shall not be allowed to enter the voting screen or booth in groups or in pairs.”

“Voting shall not take place indoors but in an open place in the full glare of the public. It is an offence for unaccredited persons to enter the voting perimeter. A delegate who has already cast his/her vote shall not be re-admitted into the voting perimeter. Any person found directing a delegate on which contestant to vote for commits an offence and shall be removed by the police,” the committee stated.