‘The position of NEC is that the running mate position is not an elective position whereby campaigning and canvassing of vote is required,’ Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, NPP General Secretary, said in a statement yesterday.
He said, at a NEC meeting of May 24, 2011, it was decided that ‘no individual or group of persons should be heard or seen to be canvassing for a particular person to be chosen as the running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo the flagbearer of NPP’.
The statement, which was titled: ‘The Choice Of A Running Mate’, said the NPP constitution had clear guidelines on choosing the running mate, adding, ‘We wish to assure our teeming supporters that these guidelines would be diligently followed and an appropriate, suitable and acceptable person would be announced as running mate by the 2nd quarter of 2012.
‘Until then, we humbly request all individuals or groups of individuals, interest groups, fan clubs and/or associations etc to desist from the practice of canvassing or lobbying for a particular person.’
Mr. Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John said the practice whereby certain groups issued statements and publications in the media in support of a particular person should cease with immediate effect.
‘Refusal to heed our humble plea above may result in the application of severe sanctions against such persons or groups of persons or the so-called ‘candidate’. The cooperation of all party faithful, sympathizers and interest groups in this matter would be highly appreciated.”
By William Yaw Owusu
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