Philip Addison, a New Patriotic Party parliamentary aspirant disqualified from taking part in this weekend’s primaries in Akuapem North, has petitioned the NPP national leadership about the matter.
Addison, who believes his disqualification was “premeditated”, pleads in his petition with the national leadership to probe the circumstances leading to his removal from the race. He also wants the NPP leadership to reverse his disqualification to enable him to stand in the primaries.
The aspirant, who was lead counsel for the NPP during the 2013 Election Petition hearing, said contrary to claims of failing to “nurture the constituency”, he had “given assistance to the party for a long time, stretching from the time of Lawyer W O Boafo and the previous executives to date”.
Contributing quota
Addison said some of his encounters with party members in the constituency who were raising problems with his decision to contest for the seat made him believe his disqualification was premeditated.
Addison said he has contributed his quota to the party, including handling legal cases for the NPP pro bono.
“I have worked hard to enhance the image of the party in the constituency. I have established a rapport with all the chiefs in the constituency and within this short space of time, I have endeared myself to a majority of the delegates and the electorate …
“I pray that the committee will find my contributions to the party worthy of recognition.
“I respectfully invite the committee to look favourably on my petition, reverse the disqualification and allow me to contest the parliamentary primaries in the Akuapem North constituency,” Addison adds in the petition sighted by citinewsroom.com.
Addison in Korle Klottey
In the lead-up to the 2016 general election, Philip Addison emerged victorious in the primaries to represent the NPP in the Korle Klottey constituency of the Greater Accra Region.
He however lost to Dr Zanetor Rawlings of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NPP primaries will take place in 165 constituencies across the country on 20 June. Elections in three constituencies have been put on hold.
The party will hold the contest at electoral area, rather than constituency level, in order to ensure social distancing.
