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Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sweden Branch, Richard Oti-Aboagye, has distanced himself from a petition challenging the Presidential Elections Committee’s (PEC) directive banning proxy voting in the party’s upcoming presidential primary, describing the petition as “misleading, constitutionally unsound and politically unhelpful.”
In a letter dated November 12, 2025 and addressed to the Chairman of the NPP’s National Executive Committee (NEC), Mr. Oti-Aboagye said he was writing in his personal capacity as a bona fide member of the party to “register my disagreement with the contents, characterisation, and conclusions” of the petition submitted two days earlier by a group purporting to represent all 30 external branches of the party.
He argued that the petition misrepresented the views of the external branches and created a “false and misleading impression” of unanimity on the matter.
He said several branch chairpersons, including himself, were not present at the meeting where the petition was drafted, and no consensus or formal resolution was ever passed by the collective external branches to endorse it.
“A meeting of Branch Chairpersons alone, without proper consultation with other executive members of the external branches, cannot make unilateral decisions on behalf of the entire body,” he cautioned.
Defending the PEC’s Mandate
The Sweden Branch Chairman mounted a strong defence of the PEC, dismissing claims that the committee had exceeded its mandate by introducing the “no proxy voting” directive.
He stressed that the PEC was constitutionally constituted by the National Council with explicit authority to “plan, organise, supervise, and execute” the presidential election process and to formulate operational rules necessary for the conduct of the primary.
According to him, insisting that every operational guideline be separately approved by the National Council would “paralyse the PEC, reduce its operational independence, and undermine the very purpose for which it was established.”
Mr. Oti-Aboagye further noted that the PEC had consulted all presidential aspirants and their representatives equitably, making it unfair for any group within the party to selectively challenge one directive while accepting others.
“If every segment of the party were to petition against operational guidelines it personally disagreed with, the election process would descend into disorder and endless contestation,” he cautioned.
Administrative Integrity and Electoral Credibility
On the matter of proxy voting, the Sweden Branch Chairman said the PEC’s decision must be viewed through the lens of ensuring electoral integrity.
While proxy voting had been used in the past, he argued that it had also posed accountability challenges, including verifying the authenticity of proxy authorisations.
He maintained that the NPP Constitution did not grant an absolute right to proxy voting and that internal organs such as the PEC had the authority to regulate electoral processes under delegated powers.
“I believe the PEC’s decision represents a responsible administrative evolution, not a violation of rights,” he said.
Unity and Constructive Engagement
Mr. Oti-Aboagye warned that public circulation of petitions challenging internal party organs risked projecting disunity at a crucial time in the party’s efforts to reclaim power in 2028.
The Sweden Branch Chairman urged the party leadership to uphold transparency, discipline and unity as the NPP prepares for a critical presidential primary.
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