NPP Likely To Lose More Votes For Disqualifying Some Parliamentary Aspirants – Ben Ephson
Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson says the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is likely to lose some votes following the disqualification of some parliamentary aspirants in their upcoming primaries on June 20.
Speaking in an interview on Kumasi-based Hello FM, he said even though the NPP is justified to disqualify some of the candidates, like Emmanuel Kotin, some supporters of other aspirants might not understand and thus may chose to vote against the party or not vote at all.
According to him, the party executives need to explain to their supporters reasons why their candidates was disqualified.
NPP could lose 400,000 votes
Pollster Ben Ephson has predicted the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will lose not less than 400,000 votes in the December 2020 general elections should the party sidestep its primaries and hand-pick parliamentary candidates.
He explained that apathy will set in if parliamentary candidates are picked and imposed on voters especially in their strongholds.
“They (NPP) have made the attempt to protect some sitting MPs,” Mr Ephson said.
“That idea, even before COVID-19, surfaced they had been trying to protect some sitting MPs and trying to disqualify others.
“There were statements that in view of COVID-19 they could decide to hand-pick parliamentary candidates for the various constituencies. If they did Nana Akufo-Addo could go into the 2020 elections minus at least 400,000 votes.
“That is if they decide to avoid elections of their primaries,” he stated
Mr Epshon claimed on the Sunrise morning show on 3FM.
Listen to him on Hello FM
Cleared Candidates For June 20 Parliamentary Primaries
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced the names of eligible candidates cleared to contest in its upcoming parliamentary and presidential primary on June 20, 2020.
For the presidential primary, President Akufo-Addo is the only candidate to have filed his nomination and is expected to go unopposed on the day.
However, across the nation, a host of incumbent Members of Parliament and hopeful party members have filed to contest in the elections.
After weeks of vetting and appeals, the party is finally announcing candidates cleared by the National Executive Committee to contest in the primary.
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