NPP 1st Vice Chairman Threaten to Sue Party & Bawumia Over Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendment

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is facing another internal disagreement after its 1st Vice Chairman, Chairman Butey, announced that he could resort to legal action against the party and its flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, over a disputed constitutional amendment.

Chairman Butey made his position known in a Facebook post following the party’s national conference on October 3. He reportedly claims that the conference proceeded with voting on constitutional changes even though he had directed that the issue be deferred.

The NPP officer, who has previously served as Central Regional Organizer, Central Regional Chairman on three occasions and 1st Vice Chairman twice, argues that the party’s constitution does not place the responsibility for organising national delegates elections in the hands of the flagbearer.

He says that the national chairman is the leader of the NPP when the party is in opposition, whereas the President assumes the role of party leader when the NPP controls government. Chairman Butey believes this provision is central to the disagreement surrounding the proposed constitutional changes.

He is said to have exercised his authority as host of the conference before proceedings began by calling for the constitutional amendments to be postponed until the next national conference. According to his account, the conference was expected to focus only on electing national executives.

However, Chairman Butey alleges that the MC, Anthony Karbo, together with Kwadwo Oppong Nkrumah and a few others, went ahead with the voting. He reportedly described the decision as a violation of the rules and procedures governing the conference.

Chairman Butey has consequently threatened to challenge the matter in court if the NPP and Dr Bawumia proceed with signing the amendment. His argument is that the constitutional change did not receive approval from either the national chairman or the 1st Vice Chairman.

The Facebook post has also attracted messages of support for his position, including a call for him to “fight the good fight for the next generation.”

The latest disagreement comes at a sensitive period for the NPP, which is still dealing with the aftermath of its 2024 general election defeat. A legal dispute involving Dr Bawumia and a senior party official could create additional pressure within the party and complicate efforts to restore unity.

Beyond the immediate threat of legal action, the controversy has reopened questions about the NPP’s constitutional arrangements and how authority should be shared between its national executives and the party’s flagbearer.