In a major political shake-up, the Agona West Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it has expelled 283 members, including the Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, for allegedly supporting an independent candidate against the party’s officially endorsed parliamentary candidate.
The decision was announced Sunday evening during an Extended Constituency Executive Committee meeting held at the Humility Lodge in Agona Swedru, Golden Star FM’s Nana Kojo Asante reported.
The meeting, chaired by Constituency Chairman Alhaji Gibrine Tanko, saw attendance from key party figures, including council elders, patrons, founding members, former executives, electoral area coordinators, members of the Disciplinary Committee, and the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Onumah Coleman.
According to Alhaji Gibrine Tanko, the expulsion of the 283 members was unanimously agreed upon by the meeting attendees, citing Article 3(9)(1) of the NPP constitution as the basis for the decision. This article empowers the party to take disciplinary action against members whose actions are deemed detrimental to its progress or unity.
Explaining the rationale for the expulsion, the Constituency Chairman and other leaders of the party alleged that the affected members either actively campaigned against the party’s candidate or provided financial and logistical support to others to do so on their behalf.
“This decision was not taken lightly, but it was necessary to protect the integrity and unity of the party in Agona West. The actions of these individuals directly contravened the principles and rules of the party,” Alhaji Tanko stated.
The parliamentary seat of the Agona West constituency was considered a safe seat for the NPP, but the party lost it to the opposition National Democratic Congress in the just ended presidential and parliamentary elections.
The NDC’s Ernestina Ofori Dangbey polled 26,052 votes as against the NPP’s Chris Arthur who had 20,654 to win the parliamentary contest. The independent candidate who is the incumbent NPP Member of Parliament, Cynthia Mamle Morrison secured 7,190 of the total valid votes cast.
The decision is expected to send a strong message to other party members across the constituency and beyond, emphasizing the NPP’s zero-tolerance policy for actions that undermine party cohesion.
This development is seen as a critical move by the NPP to safeguard its dominance in the constituency and ensure loyalty within its ranks as the party prepares for upcoming political activities.
Source: Newstitbits.com