Several ‘traditional’ names have popped up as possible choices to become ‘Running Mates’ to the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.
Yesterday, however, the NPP’s General Secretary Justin Kudua yesterday stated that the party has decided to grant the Flag Bearer more time to present his choice.
Many names have so far come up as being in contention, including names like Chief of Staff Frema Opare, Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Education Minister Yaw Adutwum, and many more.
Pundits have also suggested that the person chosen may come from the younger generation.
The same pundits have also not however discounted the possibility that Dr. Bawumia may be scouting beyond the rank and file of the party for a choice, a dark horse who so far has not been in the ranking and contemplation. Pundits suggest that they would not be surprised by such a possibility.
With the possible exception of the name of the Chief of Staff, the female gender has not been represented, and it has been suggested that it is possible that the Flag Bearer is also eyeing a female Running Mate, who is so far not in the public contemplation.
WAIVER
In the meantime the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has granted its flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, additional time to select his running mate for the upcoming elections.
The party’s constitution usually requires the vice presidential candidate to be chosen one year before elections.
However, considering Dr Bawumia’s relatively recent election as flagbearer, the party leadership has chosen to waive this requirement.
The party’s National Council, which has the power to make exceptions to the party’s rules, agreed with Dr Bawumia’s request to pick his running mate later.
This means that Dr Bawumia will have more time to consider his options and pick the best person to be his running mate.
Addressing the press after a national council meeting on Thursday, General Secretary of the party Justin Frimpong Kodua noted that the national council agreed with the request of the party’s flagbearer.
“In line with our constitution, particularly about article 13 (32)- ‘the vice presidential candidate shall be a known and active member at least five years and shall be nominated by the presidential candidate at least 12 months before general elections when the party is not in government or the president is not the candidate.’
“The National Council may, however, dispense with this requirement under special circumstances. From the interpretation of this article, it presupposes that today should have been the day our leader of the party and our presidential candidate should have presented his running mate to the national council.”
“However, upon request from the presidential candidate that because his election was done on the 4th of November 2023, he needs a bit of time to continue with his consultation before he brings the proposed name for running mate to the national council,” he said.
