Kennedy Agyapong Refuses To Withdraw From NPP Presidential Race
Flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has emphasized his resolution to go ahead with the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s presidential primary in November.
This comes in the wake of withdrawals from the race by some aspirants.
In a video that has gone viral and in a subsequent tweet, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central emphasized his unwillingness to bow out of the contest.
In the video, he was seated with some of his supporters and assured them he wasn’t stepping down for any other candidate.
On Twitter, he wrote, “I’m not going to step down for anybody.”
Two candidates have so far bowed out of the race with the latest being Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, former Minister for Trade and Industries.
Alan Withdrawal
Alan cited “intimidation”, “manipulation” and skewing of the Super Delegates Conference results for his decision to pull out of the race on September 5.
“After having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular Aspirant. The pronouncements made by some leading Members of our Party both before and after the elections, also lend weight to my observations,” a portion of a statement he put out said.
He alleged delegates in the Super Delegates Conference were subjected to “intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly”.
Boakye Agyarko’s Withdrawal
Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko’s withdrawal followed a decision by the National Executive Committee and the National Council of the NPP to have a rerun vote cast by members of the National Council to break a tie between himself and Francis Addai-Nimoh after the Party failed to get a fifth aspirant in the Super Delegates Conference held on Saturday, August 26, 2023.
He noted that the decision by the Council was “totally unconstitutional” and capable of eroding fair play in the election.
The NPP is now left with four candidates running to become flagbearer. The primary will be held on November 4, 2023.
