The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Eastern Regional Executive Committee has gagged members against contesting sitting MPs in the region.
A statement signed by Hon. Baba Jamal warned all NDC members in the region who have planned to contest NDC MPs in Eastern region to rescind from such decisions.
According to the statement, the party has not yet given an official green light to even start campaigning.
It has been observed some members of the NDC want to become MPs and are seriously embarking on a series of campaign in the region.
The main opposition party in Ghana holds 7 out of the 33 seats in the region. The party is putting up strategic measures to protect the 7 seats, and even adding more in the next election.
The incumbent MPs fear being uprooted and have run to leadership for refuge over what they refer as intimidation and undermining tactics by their internal opponents while they are in Accra working.
The call shook the Regional Executive Committee of the party to warn the MPs’ opponents to halt all their activities.
Hon Baba Jamal Konneh in a statement said, “The National Executive Committee (NEC) has not set out dates or opened nominations for parliamentary primaries and neither has it sanctioned campaign activities for such positions to begin.
“Indeed the General Secretary of the party issued a letter dated 25-02-2022 cautioning the perpetrators of such acts. He stated in that letter that ‘Any member who jumps the gun could face sanctions including the possibility of being disqualified from contesting when the time comes.’
“We, therefore warn that until NEC comes out with a date for parliamentary elections, all party folks having the interest to contest must back down all activities that are geared towards parliamentary primaries.”
He stressed, “For the avoidance of doubt, these include a declaration of intents by assembling branch executives, soliciting for support from the branches and campaigns in any form.
“Also, all individuals having the interest to contest as parliamentary candidates must respect the authorities of the Constituency Executive Committees (CEC) before, during, and even after primaries.”
The statement added that “Every qualified party member who has the interest to contest as a parliamentary candidate on the ticket of the party at any constituency in the region would be allowed to do so when nominations are opened.
“So we are all advised to henceforth desist from this and other such activities that will bring the name of the party into disrepute.”
