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With just five days to the New Patriotic Party�s (NPP) Special Electoral College, the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders of the party has suggested that any of the seven candidates contesting to become the party�s flag bearer for the 2016 election who polls more than 68 per cent of the votes should automatically lead the party. At a press conference in Kumasi Tuesday, the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the party, Mr Akenten Appiah-Menkah, admitted that although the suggestion was at variance with the party�s constitution, it would create a united front necessary to battle the ruling National Democratic Congers (NDC) in the next election. Seven aspirants Delegates at the special college are expected to prune down the number of the contestants from seven to five at the August 31 special congress ahead of the National Delegates Congress later this year. The seven who are vying for the position of the flag bearer to represent the party during Election 2016 are a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; a former Minister of Information, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng; Member of Parliament for Mampong and ranking member of the Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology in Parliament, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh; Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw; a former Minster of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen; 2012 presidential candidate of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; and Second Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Ketan-Essikado, Mr Joe Ghartey. He said much as the council respected all seven candidates, it would be in the overall interest of the party for the losers, �on their own volition, to step down from any further contest and pledge their support for the winner. �This is a passionate appeal and plea to all the seven candidates as we look at the bigger picture of reclaiming power,� Mr Appiah-Menka, an industrialist, told journalists in Kumasi. The council called on the rank and file of the party to forge a united front and cut down on bickering, which becomes more difficult to �repair� because of its inherent contestations. Special Electoral College Meanwhile, the NPP has released a notice of poll for the Special Electoral College (SEC) to reduce the seven presidential aspirants to five in accordance with its constitution. According to the notice, the shortlisting will take place throughout the 10 regions on Sunday, August 31, from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. Article 12 (5) (b) of the party�s constitution states that where there are more than five contestants for nomination as the party�s presidential candidate, a special electoral college shall cast their votes by secret ballot for the first five contestants to be shortlisted. The SEC shall comprise the national council, the national executive committees, regional executive committees, national council of elders, Members of Parliament (MPs), three representatives each of a special organ of the party, past national officers, three representatives each of every branch and founding members at the time of registering the party at the Electoral Commission (EC). Every delegate shall be entitled to one vote and where the number of aspirants approved by the vetting committee exceeds five, the SEC shall elect and submit for election by the party�s delegates the names of five aspirants as specified in Article 12 (A) (6), according to the party�s constitution. It further states that the election of the first five contestants by the SEC shall be conducted by the EC of Ghana. All is set for College The party�s General Secretary, Mr Kwabena Adjei Agyepong, told the Daily Graphic that �all is set for Sunday�s Electoral College.� He disclosed that the party�s leadership had had meetings with the hierarchy of the Ghana Police Service to ensure adequate security throughout the 11 voting centres. There are 10 polling centres at the regional capitals with an extra polling centre at the party headquarters in Accra. All in all, there is a total of 786 delegates whose number may be reviewed downwards because the party is updating the list of founder members who signed the party�s form in 1992 at the EC. The Ashanti Region has the largest electoral list of 133 delegates and the Upper West, the smallest with 32 delegates. According to Mr Agyepong, Sunday�s nationwide exercise is being conducted by the EC in line with the party�s constitution and the dictates of the regulations and guidelines approved by the National Council of the party.