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Counsel for Paul Afoko, the suspended National NPP chairman, wants flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his perennial running-mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, punished together with the party’s steering committee punished for going ahead with a committee meeting he believes constitutes contempt of court.

Lawyer Martin Kpebu particularly wants Acting National Chairman of the party Freddie Blay jailed after he chaired the meeting in the full chaired the meeting in the full knowledge that Paul Afoko’s supporters had filed a writ of summons challenging his suspension.

A contentious national executive meeting of the party, a fortnight ago, suspended Mr. Afoko for what they described as his inimical actions towards the political fortunes of the party; Afoko is battling his suspension in court and insists he is still the national chairperson of the party.

Three individuals believed to be sponsored by suspended NPP Chairman Paul Afoko have gone to court trying to stop the enforcement of his suspension.

The applicants are Tweneboa Kodua Emmanuel, Stephen Owusu and Joseph Oppong, all from the Ashanti region.

The three are seeking an interlocutory injunction “to restrain them from holding out [Freddie Blay] as acting chairman of the party and convening and attending meetings without the purportedly suspend chairman of the party (Chairman Afoko) being the convenor of the meetings.

“…and to restrain the defendants from taking decisions in any meeting not convened by Chairman Afoko, until this dispute is finally determined.”

In spite of the pending suit, the National Headquarters of the New Patriotic Party Tuesday Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia Joined at least 95 top party officials that flooded the Asylum Down office for the National Executive Committee meeting which was immediately followed by a National Council meeting, the highest decision making body when the party is not at Congress.

Top party gurus, including former ministers, members of the National Council, leaders of the parliamentary caucus, regional chairmen were present.

While party officials struggled for a photo opportunity with the flagbearer, the General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyepong was conspicuously absent.

The General Secretary is in an isolated position in the party because he has continued to insist the suspended chairman of the party remains the legitimate leader of the party.

A statement from the camp of Mr. Afoko ahead of yesterday’s meeting warned members of the executive committee of the elephant family against attending today’s meeting.

His lawyer has made it clear that any official who attended NEC meetings is in contempt of court.

At NEC meeting attended by eight national officers, Martin Kpebu vowed to get them all jailed for contempt of court as the High Court prepares to hear the case this month.

He believes the 95 others at Tuesday’s meeting are guilty of the same charge.

NPP Communications Director Nana Akomea, however, has said the suspension of Paul Afoko signals a return to peace and stability that has eluded the party since the new executives were elected in April 2014.

Meanwhile, lawyer for Paul Afoko is accusing party Akufo-Addo of bias.

Martin Kpebu says Nana Akufo-Addo is taking sides in the ongoing internal leadership crisis which has wrecked the party for some weeks now.

This is the first time the two have participated in such a high level meeting after the controversial suspension of Mr. Afoko Accused of discreetly sabotaging the party’s presidential bid.

Martin Kpebu told Joy News by attending the “illegal” meeting; Akufo-Addo has compromised his position as the flagbearer. The presidential candidate is required to be neutral, he stated.

“Akufo-Addo’s action indicates that he is “recognizing lawyer Blay as the acting chairman,” he complained.