Who Leads the NPP In 2016 Is a Constitutional Matter � Haruna Esseku

The debate as to who leads the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016 elections became prominent a week ago after the party�s General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie in an interview purportedly said that, twice-defeated presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will certainly run for the 2016 elections under the ticket of the NPP even if he is paralyzed. His comment has attracted both support and condemnation from the elephant fraternity as well as the some political analysts. A founding father of the NPP, Mr. Haruna Esseku has also described Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie�s premature campaign for Nana Addo as unfortunate. According to Mr. Esseku, though Nana Akufo-Addo still qualifies to run as a presidential candidate for the NPP, individuals cannot select him to do so without going according to the NPP�s constitution which detailed an election process to pick a flagbearer for the party. He further noted that, the constitution limits a potential candidate�s qualifications to run as a flagbearer but not the number of times a candidate wants to contest. �This is a constitutional matter; our constitution limits the qualifications to have before you contest. There is no limit on the number of times you can contest a position�,� he noted. Adding; �I think it is too early to discuss who should contest what position. Let us all follow the constitution�anybody who is interested in the NPP and about this candidature, I�ll recommend to them to get copies of our (Constitution)�and read who, what you should do before you can contest for any position and try to study the person looking for that job, whether he qualifies or not�. In an interview with Radio XYZ, Mr. Haruna Esseku opined that, in as much as he disagrees with the early crusade for Nana Addo�s third time leadership for the NPP in 2016, he has no demurrals if the former Attorney General states his position to contest to lead the party in the 2016 polls. �I have no objection Nana should contest, because if he says he will contest he will go through voting again,� he said.