Race to Parliament: NPP goes to the polls today to elect their parliamentary candidates

- Delegates of the NPP will today elect their prospective Members of Parliament today

- The parliamentary primaries is expected to take place in 168 constituencies across the nation

- The polls will begin at exactly 7am and end at 1pm after which counting would start

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The long-awaited parliamentary primaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), is set to be held today, June 20, 2020, at designated centers across the country.

Delegates in 168 constituencies would seek to go to the polls to make their final choice on who they deem fit to lead the party as parliamentary candidate for the upcoming December 2020 general elections.

Voting is expected to start 7am and close at 1pm after which counting and the fate of the candidates would be decided.

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Out of the 168 constituencies, 310 aspirants will contest in 100 constituencies. 65 candidates from the number will go unopposed.

Three constituencies out of the 168, Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region, Gushegu in the Northern Region and Dormaa Central in the Bono Region, have been suspended from the primaries due to certain developments.

26 of the constituencies have been regarded as hotspots due to the candidates involved and the history attached to primaries there.

Some of the 26 include Adansi Asokwa, Asante Akim North, Asante Akim South, Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, Adentan, Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei South and Tema West.

Three constituencies have also been suspended from the primaries due to certain developments in those areas. They are Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region, Gushegu in the Northern Region and Dormaa Central in the Bono Region.

Per required of law, the Electoral Commission would oversee the electoral process while the security apparatus in the country will man security to ensure nothing untoward happens.

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Prior to the primaries, party executives issued a release warning all vigilante groups to stay away from the process. Again, all motorbikes have been banned from operating anywhere close to the designated voting centers.

As we all not in normal times, the ruling party has assured all delegates, supporters and candidates that all social distancing protocols will be followed to the latter and also asked involved persons to protect themselves.

After the voting, the EC would declare the winners and losers and this would give the victors the greenlight to concentrate fully on representing the ruling party in parliament come Januar 7, 2021.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that President Nana Akufo-Addo urged the NPP to ensure that it comes out of the June 20 primaries safe and stronger.

He noted that the primaries is a perfect opportunity to show Ghanaians that it is possible to conduct an electoral process that will guarantee the safety of all even in the midst of the pandemic which has bedeviled the world.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo is making promises he cannot keep - Mahama jabs ahead of 2020 polls

Nana Addo, therefore, urged the party to respect the enhanced hygiene and the social distancing protocols the EC will put in place to guarantee the safety of everyone.

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Source: YEN.com.gh