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Atik Mohammed says the New Patriotic Party's decision to convene its National Council as an electoral college to resolve the tie between former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko and his fellow competitor, Francis Addai Nimoh, which has resulted in the former's withdrawal from the contest will hurt the party.

Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party, has announced his decision to refrain from the upcoming run-off election due to the party's decision to convene its National Council as an electoral college to resolve the tie between him and Addai Nimoh, both of whom secured fifth place in the recently concluded Super Delegates Conference.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Presidential Elections Committee of the NPP, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, Mr. Agyarko criticized the move, stating that the National Council's shortlisting of a few individuals to represent the larger body of 955 participants from the first round of voting last Saturday is "unconstitutional".

"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 implication? 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," he affirmed.

Atik Mohammed has applauded the move by Boakye Agyarko stating this shows he is a "man of principle".

"Let me salute the decision of Mr. Boakye Agyarko. I mean you can't love him any less. Apart from his brilliance and intelligence, he is a man of principle", he told Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show.

To him, it is wrong for the NPP to set a rule and alter it midway.

"I think this is something that is going to hurt the party going forward. You cannot alter your rules in the middle of the game. Nobody does that. If you have rules of engagement, follow through to the end...This thing they've done, I think, is a slap on the face of their rules", he bellowed.