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The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is in a battle of his life to retain the Suame seat in the Ashanti Region as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) goes to the primaries tomorrow.

His seat is one of the hottest in Parliament, as he leads the Minority and is part of the leadership of the House.

But he has to win the primaries in his constituency first, as his defeat will be the biggest upset in the primaries.

Two parliamentary aspirants, Mr John Darko, aka Lawyer Darko; and Mr Kwadwo Boateng Genfi, aka Boat, a 56-year-old business consultant, are moving heaven and earth to unseat the Minority Leader, accusing him of doing little for the constituency.

However, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is leaving no stone unturned in his effort to retain his position as the parliamentary candidate of the NPP in the Suame Constituency. Indeed, a number of his colleague MPs have thronged Suame to canvass for votes for him, extolling his strong virtues and credentials.

The primaries are also expected to be keenly contested in most constituencies all over the country, particularly Asokwa, Nhyiaeso, Abuakwa South and Abuakwa North, Ablekuma North, Ofoase-Ayirebi and Gomoa West. Others are Oforikrom, Kwadaso and Effiduase.

Particularly in Manhyia North and Nhyiaeso, the incumbents, Collins Owusu Amankwah and Richard Anane respectively, are in battles of their lives to retain their candidature.

In Asokwa, where the contest has been described as the battle of equals, Mrs Patricia Appiagyei, popularly referred to as Mama Pat, the incumbent, has pledged to maintain her position.

However, Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, affectionately referred to as Kofi Ghana, is insisting that though he lost the bid to Mama Pat in the last primaries, he has strategised, corrected the wrongs and is battle-ready to unseat her this time.

Mr Jumah is a two-time MP who was succeeded by Mrs Appiagyei.

Other incumbent MPs who are in similar must-win situations include Lawyer Atta Akyea in Abuakwa South and Mr J.B. Danquah Adu in Abuakwa North.

Political watchers are keenly observing how Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Mr George Andah, new entrants, will also fare as they contest the primaries in Ofoase Ayirebi and Awutu Senya West, respectively.

Meanwhile, some incumbent MPs are taking it cool, as they are going unopposed.

They include the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul, Bimbilla; Dr Nana Stephen Ato Arthur, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem; Mr Francis Addai Nimoh, a former presidential aspirant, Mampong, and Mr Dan Kweku Botwe, Okere.

The parliamentary primaries will come off in 245 out of the 275 constituencies across the country.

This means delegates in 30 constituencies will miss the opportunity to elect their candidates because the constituencies are grappling with a variety of outstanding issues relating to the primaries, including the candidature of some of the aspirants.

The 30 constituencies are New Edubiase, Akrofuom, Adansi Asokwa, Manhyia North, Juaben and Kumawu, all in the Ashanti Region; Kintampo North in Brong Ahafo; Upper Denkyira West in Central; Talensi in Upper East and Nadowli Kaleo in Upper West.

Others are Dome-Kwabenya, Tema West, Tema Central, Tema East, Ayawaso Central, Okaikoi South, Klottey Korle, Oboom-Domeabra, Ablekuma West and Krowor, all in the Greater Accra Region; and Ho Central, Nkwanta South, North Dayi, Krachi Nchumuru and Ketu North in the Volta Region.

The rest are Bia East, Bia West, Juaboso, Akontombra and Kwesimintsim in the Western Region.

The date for the primaries in those constituencies would be announced in due course, according to the NPP’s General Secretary, Mr Kwabena Adjei Agyepong, who told the Daily Graphic that everything was being done to address the issues at stake.