A leading figure within the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) external branches has strongly challenged a petition submitted to the National Executive Committee (NEC) regarding the Presidential Elections Committee’s (PEC) directive banning proxy voting in the upcoming presidential primaries.
Mr. Richard Oti-Aboagye, Chairman of the NPP Sweden Branch, has formally written to the NEC to “respectfully register my disagreement with the contents, characterisation, and conclusions of the petition” presented to the Party on November 10, 2025. The petition, purportedly issued on behalf of all 30 external branches, challenges the PEC’s “no proxy voting” directive.
In his detailed submission, Mr. Oti-Aboagye argued that the petition is misleading and does not reflect the true position of the external branches. He stated that the petition “creates the false and misleading impression that all thirty (30) external branches were present, represented, and in agreement at the meeting during which the petition was conceived and discussed.” He added that several branch chairpersons, himself included, were absent from the said meeting, and thus “no formal resolution or consensus of all external branches / delegates was ever passed to endorse the petition in question.”
Defending PEC’s Mandate
Mr. Oti-Aboagye further argued that the PEC acted within its constitutional authority by issuing the operational directive on proxy voting. In his letter, he noted that the PEC “was constitutionally constituted by the National Council with a clear and express mandate to plan, organise, supervise, and execute the presidential election process of the Party.”
He emphasized that the Committee’s Terms of Reference empower it to independently manage operational matters. In this regard, he stressed that insisting every guideline must be separately approved by the National Council would “paralyse the PEC, reduce its operational independence, and undermine the very purpose for which it was established.”
Highlighting Fairness and Consistency
The Sweden Branch Chairman also defended the PEC’s engagement with all presidential aspirants and their representatives, recalling that all candidates have been included in discussions on election rules. He criticised the attempt to single out one directive for challenge, arguing that such behaviour could destabilise the Party’s internal electoral timetable. He wrote: “If every segment of the Party were to petition against operational guidelines it personally disagreed with, the election process would descend into disorder and endless contestation.”
The Case Against Proxy Voting
Addressing the controversial issue directly, Mr. Oti-Aboagye supported the PEC’s stance on prohibiting proxy voting, citing past administrative challenges. He explained that although proxy voting previously served a purpose, it also created “serious administrative and accountability challenges, including questions about the authenticity of representation and verification of proxy authorisations.”
He stressed that the Party’s Constitution “does not confer an absolute right to proxy voting” and that the PEC’s decision, in this instance, reflects “a responsible administrative evolution, not a violation of rights.”
Caution Against Public Petitions and Internal Disunity
Mr. Oti-Aboagye warned that circulating petitions that challenge established Party organs risks undermining the unity the NPP needs ahead of the 2028 elections. He noted that such actions “erode confidence in our Party’s decision-making structures and project disunity at a critical time in our collective effort to return to power.”
He called for constructive engagement, stressing that members must embody “discipline, institutional respect, and faith in due process, the very values that distinguish our Party from others.”
Calls to the NEC
Mr. Oti-Aboagye further urged the NEC to: “Take note that the petition… does not represent the unanimous position of the thirty (30) external branches”;
“Affirm the authority and mandate of the PEC” regarding the no-proxy directive;
Encourage continued dialogue between the PEC and the External Branch Caucus; and
Reiterate the NPP’s commitment to “transparency, discipline, and unity” as it prepares for the 2028 general election.
The submission was copied to the National Council Chairman, the Constitutional and Legal Committee, the PEC, all presidential candidates, and the Director of External Affairs.
The full submission below:
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