Boakye Agyarko, a flagbearer aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), publicly announced his decision to withdraw from the party’s impending run-off election to choose the 5th aspirant in the just ended special delegates conference.
It comes after the party announced a run-off vote on Saturday (2 September) between Boakye Agyarko and Francis Addai-Nimoh for the fifth position in the flagbearer election.
The decision was made when the council met on Wednesday, August 30.
However, in a statement made on Thursday (31 August), Agyarko stated that the ruling is illegal and cited additional legal violations.
“It is totally unacceptable to me that such an unconstitutional act can be perpetuated on the altar of expediency. Am I to surmise that the party did not know the cost implication? It is unconscionable that the rules of the game will be changed midstream.
“Rules and regulations that are flip-flopped in such a manner is only detrimental to fair play and justice. It is a clear violation of the party’s constitution and the guidelines for the Special Electoral College. It is an unconstitutional act which | cannot allow myself to be associated with.”
“I, therefore, respectfully, serve this notice to refrain from such a contest. As always, I wish the party well,” the statement said.
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia secured a resounding victory in the recently concluded special electoral college, putting him on track to become the presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to the Electoral Commission’s certified results, Bawumia received 629 votes, accounting for 68.15% of all valid votes cast throughout the 17 polling stations.
Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central, finished in second with 132 votes (14.3%), followed by former trade minister Alan Kyerematen with 95 votes (10.29%).
Former agricultural minister Owusu Afriyie Akoto finished fourth with 36 votes (3.9%), followed by Francis Addai-Nimoh and Boakye Agyarko, who each received 9 votes (0.98%), leaving them to compete for fifth place.
The purpose of the first primary was to reduce the number of candidates from ten to five.
Read statement below;
