The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is facing a severe test of its internal democratic principles as a group of its Constituency Executives abroad has threatened to pursue legal action if the party refuses to grant them proxy voting rights in the impending presidential primaries.
The ultimatum is contained in a sharply-worded petition that accuses the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) of acting in “violation of the spirit and letter” of the NPP Constitution, setting the stage for a potential internal legal battle that could embarrass the party and disrupt its electoral timetable.
The petition, signed by dozens of constituency executives currently studying or working overseas, hinges on Article 25(1)(b) of the NPP Constitution, which explicitly permits a registered voter who is “absent from the constituency and will be unable to vote on polling day” to apply for a proxy.
“The constitutional language is clear and unambiguous,” the executives state, arguing that the party’s current stance of not facilitating this process for members abroad is an act of “unconstitutional disenfranchisement.”
A source close to the diaspora group, who spoke on strict condition of anonymity, confirmed that legal advisers have already been consulted. “If the NEC fails to act on this petition, our next step will be the courts. We will seek an injunction to enforce our constitutional rights. We have contributed too much to this party to be silenced so casually,” the source stated.
This threat places the NPP leadership in a precarious position. Allowing the vote could be seen as caving to pressure and might alter the delicate calculus of the primary race. Denying it, however, risks a public and messy legal dispute that would cast a shadow over the party’s claim to be a bastion of democracy and rule of law.
Political analysts were quick to highlight the significance of the confrontation.
“This is no longer just an internal grievance; it’s a direct challenge to the party’s governance,” said Dr. Evelyn Mensah, a senior lecturer in Political Science. “A legal challenge would force a public dissection of the NPP’s constitution and force the judiciary to intervene in a purely internal party matter. This is a scenario every political party seeks to avoid, as it exposes deep internal divisions and sets a problematic precedent.”
The petition also makes a strategic argument, noting that as a party in opposition, the NPP should be conserving resources. It questions the logic of forcing members to spend “hundreds or thousands of dollars” on airfare for one vote when those funds could be channeled into grassroots campaigning for the 2028 general election.
When contacted, the NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagba said “The National Council is the ultimate body that interprets our constitution. All matters are before it for consideration, and we are confident a decision that strengthens our democracy will be reached.”
However, with the primaries fast approaching, the party’s “supreme interest” hangs in the balance, caught between its own rulebook and the determined voices of its members abroad who are prepared to see the party in court to secure their right to be heard.
