Presidential candidate-hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, has announced his withdrawal from the party’s special runoff election scheduled for September 2, 2023.
Mr. Agyarko claims that the Presidential Elections Committee of the party has violated the party’s constitution and election procedures by deciding to restrict the number of voters in the run-off election between himself and Francis Addai Nimoh.
In a statement dated August 31, 2023, he said, “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 implications? 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 I cannot allow myself to be associated with. I refuse to be a part of such an act that seeks to unjustly truncate a previously agreed upon process and cannot be part of what is about to be done on Saturday, 2nd September, 2023. I cannot, with a clear conscience, make such an impermissible concession to such an errant decision.
“I THEREFORE, RESPECTFULLY, SERVE THIS NOTICE TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH A CONTEST.”
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, the NPP held a special delegate election in which more than 900 people voted to narrow the number of presidential aspirant contenders from ten to five in preparation for the 2024 election. Boakye Agyarko and Addai-Nimoh finished the election tied on fifth place, receiving 9 votes each.
The party’s Election Committee declared on August 30, 2023, that only a subset of the 955 delegates who voted last Saturday will be allowed to vote on September 2 to break the deadlock for the final flagbearer election slated for November 4, 2023.
