NPP Will Boycott Any By-Election In Its Strongholds - Nana Akomea

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Director Nana Akomea says his party will boycott any elections organized by the Electoral Commission (EC), even if they are organised in areas considered NPP strongholds. According to Nana Akomea, the decision is intended to help the party focus on the suit the NPP has filed against the EC and president Mahama challenging the results of the 2012 presidential elections. He noted, �it will be illogical on our part to take part in elections to be supervised by the very body we have sued in court.� The opposition NPP has petitioned the Supreme Court over an alleged electoral fraud and praying to the court to invalidate the results of the polls and subsequently declare its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, the winner. The party also boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of the president, noting that attending the ceremony would defeat the purpose of going to seek redress at the Supreme Court and adding that the party is prepared to boycott more. The latest boycott by the party will focus on the Akatsi and Buem bye-elections slated for February 5 and 26, respectively. A statement issued Sunday afternoon also said that until further notice, the NPP will not participate in future elections conducted by the EC. The Akatsi South seat became vacant following the election of Edward Doe Adjaho as Speaker of Parliament while that of Buem became vacant following the death of Henry Ford Kamel, who was also the Volta regional Minister. The NDC has described the NPP�s latest action as face saving tactics against a humiliating defeat in the two upcoming bye-elections. However, speaking on Asempa FM�s current affairs talk show Ekosii Sen on Monday, Nana Akomea deflated the notion, stating that the decision is a bold and principled one the party has adopted. �This is a principled decision taken by the party that it would not be part of the two bye-elections and subsequent ones to come. We would not care whether it is our stronghold or not. "What we know is that we are not taking part in any election until the Supreme Court gives its ruling on our petition. Today it is Akatsi and Buem, but if even it were to be Manhyia or Okaikoi South, we would still not be part. It doesn�t matter the location because this is a bold and principled decision taken by the party hierarchy,� he said. He asserted that though it is obvious the party would not win any of the two seats in the impending by-elections, this did not play a part in the party�s decision to boycott. �Though it is true that since 1992 we have not been winning the two seats, it cannot be the reasons why we are boycotting. We know that we don�t get even forty percent in the two constituencies, the boycott however is based on our principle that any election organized by the EC before the verdict of the Supreme Court, the NPP would not be interested.�