NPP polls were not chaotic, says Freddie Blay

Freddie Blay, the national chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed reports suggesting the party’s polling station executive elections were chaotic.

Police personnel were deployed to the NPP office in the Manhyia North Constituency after party members clashed with executives over nomination forms.

The chaos erupted after the chairman of the election committee announced that the nomination forms would be on sale for new applicants vying for various positions at the polling station levels.

Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on Wednesday (23 February), Blay said: “Let me point out that the problems that are being experienced in some particular constituencies cannot be described to be widespread – over 38,000 and a few infractions in about less than 30 constituencies across the length and breadth of the country, one cannot use that as a yardstick to come to conclusion that it’s been chaotic.”

“And we have not taken very serious steps to address the problems. I think so far, we have done well. I agree that there are few constituencies and poling stations that we’ve had problems and continue to do so for a long time.”

Blay added: “But that’s because of the interest that people have shown, you can even appreciate that the enthusiasm that have been expressed by people who have shown to be part of the polling station executive is extremely amazing. I am a little bit surprised at that, it shows that the party at the base is very popular.”

He said the development does not have any link to the recent happenings in Parliament.

“It’s a misconception that what’s happening in Parliament is a result of a few problems we encountered in terms of the primaries leading to the 2020 elections.”

We’ll deal with persons who flout rules

Evans Nimako, the director of research and elections for the NPP has warned that leadership will deal with members who act contrary to the directives of the party in the election of polling station executives across the country.

Nimako called for strict compliance to the party’s rules governing such elections in conversation with Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show.

“The mandate given to the polling stations and electoral area coordinators committee must be conducted in a manner as given in the rules and regulations for the conduct of these elections.

“We expect nothing more, nothing else than strict compliance to the directives given. All those who in one way or the other giving a certain posture that is not in consonance with the party’s rules and regulation will be taken off,” Nimako said on Monday (21 February).

Fred Dzakpata

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