A majority of New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates in the Saboba Constituency in the Northern Region have appealed to the General Secretary, John Boadu, to reinstate renowned security analyst Emmanuel Mawanye Kotin in the party’s parliamentary primary.
This appeal was contained in a letter jointly signed by 204 out of 372 delegates of the constituency.
Mr Kotin was disqualified from contesting the indefinitely-suspended primary despite going through vetting and even balloting.
There was no reason given for his disqualification by the National Parliamentary Vetting Committee (NPVC) but some members adduced that it was done on legitimate grounds.
But the delegates of the party in their letter, which copied the Chairman of the Appeals Committee, the National Chairman of the party as well as the Northern Region Chairman, said the “unfair” and “biased” disqualification has weakened “the spirit, energies and zeal of the teeming supporters of the party in the constituency who were gearing up to strategize and work for the victory of the party again in December 2020”.
“Respectfully Sir, the party is at the verge of total collapse and disarray in the Saboba constituency following the lack of tact and the absurd disqualification of Mr. Kotin from contesting in the parliamentary primaries.
“Mr. Kotin over the years has built a reservoir of comradeship in the nook and cranny of the constituency. It is an understatement to point out that, he has through his works in the constituency endeared himself to all caliber of persons in the constituency who earnestly wish to see him represent them in the next parliament. This affability no doubt, makes an already difficult terrain, quite easier for the party in the constituency as we head towards a major and decisive elections in 2020.”
In analyzing the fortunes of the NPP in the constituency, the delegates said the seat cannot be said to be an NPP seat as it is “a traditional NDC seat”.
They said the NPP won it in the last elections as a result of division within the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“To make matters worse, the NDC candidate, who is the immediate past Member of Parliament and ruled for two consecutive terms, is coming to the elections this time with a united front since they have reunited with the then independent candidate from the last electoral defeat.
“By far, in comparison with the incumbent NPP MP, Mr. Bukari is favoured and tipped to reclaim the seat, should the elections be between two former MPs.
“This is a cardinal reason why we the teeming supporters of the party encouraged Mr. Kotin to put up himself in service to redeem our lost glory and bring us victory in December 2020.”
But they are unhappy the “current scheming and machinations of affairs pertaining to [Mr Kotin’s] disqualification will no doubt bereft us of the long-awaited victory and subsequent consolidation of the seat for the NPP”.
They have fingered the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, behind Mr Kotin’s disqualification.
But they want the General Secretary to use his “immense powers” to reverse the decision by the NPVC.
“Dear General Secretary, your intervention in restoring the candidate of Mr. Kotin is not only necessary, but vitally important in strengthening party unity for a resounding victory in December 2020 and a solidify front in subsequent elections. We acknowledge your immense powers which we remind you that you hold such in trust of the people and that we employ you to use it for the good of all party faithfuls.”
Source: 3news.com|Ghana