The Chairman of the Constitutional Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nii Ayikoi Otoo, says the party will enter an appearance in the legal suit filed against it by a member of the party, Mr David Hoezame, challenging the status of the party’s National Council.
“We have to enter appearance. When a writ is issued to you, you submit to the judicial process by entering appearance,” he told the Daily Graphic.
He said he had prepared responses to the writ, which would be filed today.
He said the meeting of the National Council was postponed because as a democratic party, it was only fair the NPP to put the meeting on hold after receiving the writ.
Nii Ayikoi Otoo said he would meet with Mr Paul Afoko, the Chairman of the party, to convene a meeting of the Steering Committee and the National Executive Council (NEC) in order for the party to make both political and legal responses to the matter.
“It has consequences for the party, especially for the flagbearership race. We have a time limitation to work with. It is not only a legal matter but also political,” he said.
The NPP plans to go to congress on December 6, 2014 to elect a presidential candidate. The party’s constitution requires that it elects a flag bearer two years before the presidential election when it is in opposition.
The writ is, therefore, seen as an action that can affect the party’s ability to go to congress on the scheduled date.
That notwithstanding, Nii Ayikoi Otoo said in the heat of the situation, the party must appreciate the fact that the right of a party member to go to court could not be denied.
He, however, indicated that it was important to exhaust internal mechanisms for resolving disputes.
