NDC primaries postponed to November 21

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has postponed its parliamentary and presidential primaries scheduled for November 7 to November 21 to cater for the  extension of nominations and vetting of aspirants  in some parts of the country.

The postponements is also to give more time to the Electoral Commission (EC ) to print ballot papers and notice of polls.

Postponement

The General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who announced this after a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party  (NEC) in Accra  yesterday, said it was mandatory for the NEC to meet one week before the primaries to assess the preparation towards the event.

He explained that after the assessment,it was found out that the timetable was a little ambitious as some additional days were required to take care of the extension of nominations, petitions and vetting.

Exhibition

He said currently, the provisional register was on exhibition across the 275 constituencies, while the party was liaising with the National Security on deployment of security personnel to the various polling stations.

Mr Asiedu Nketia appealed to members of party to patronise the exhibition of the provisional register to make sure their names had appeared in the register and to be vigilant to validate genuine members.

Opportunity

He said the exercise was also to offer members the opportunity to delete the names of unqualified members and those who had died. 

He said information reaching the NDC headquarters indicated that some branch executive members in some parts of the Greater Accra and the Brong Ahafo regions had attempted to compromise the exercise, which had led to the burning of the registers.

He said the party, after the parliamentary and presidential primaries, would conduct investigations into the conduct of the branch executive members whose actions led to the burning of the registers.

Rumours

Mr Asiedu Nketia also dispelled rumours that the postponement of the parliamentary and presidential primaries was to allow for some traditional areas to celebrate their festivals.

He said the postponement of such an important national exercise because of festivals could open the floodgates for other traditional areas and religious bodies to make a case for the postponement of national events of the party.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah also refuted allegations that  the branches burnt the registers in support of the call for a new voters register by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).