The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expelled a Youth Organiser in North Dayi constituency for openly supporting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during a rally at Botoku in the Volta Region.
Mr. Addae Bright, who served as the Youth Organizer for the RC Primary Anfoega Wadamaxe polling station in the North Dayi constituency, made headlines when he publicly declared his support for the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for the area, Joycelyn Tetteh and flagbearer John Mahama.
His actions, which were seen as a violation of Article 3(9)(1) of the NPP constitution, led to the immediate forfeiture of his membership.
The provision in the NPP’s Constitution stipulates, “A Member of the Party, who stands as an independent candidate against the officially elected member of the Party, or who joins or declares his or her support for another Political Party, or for an independent candidate, when the Party has sponsored a candidate in a general or by-election, automatically forfeits his or her membership of the Party.”
The NPP’s North Dayi Constituency Secretary, Mr. Baku Emmanuel K., in a statement on Monday, October 14, notified all party members of Bright’s expulsion and urged them to treat him as a non-member.
The party emphasised that any member who joins or supports another political party when the NPP has officially sponsored a candidate forfeits their membership. Addae Bright’s public endorsement of the NDC was seen as a direct violation of this rule.
“On Wednesday 9th October 2024, the NDC organized a rally for their National Chairman Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia at Botoku. At the said event, Mr. Addae Bright, a Youth Organiser for NPP at RC primary Anfoega Wadamaxe polling station, openly declared his support for the NDC parliamentary candidate and the flagbearer of NDC,” the statement said.
In the statement, the NPP pointed to Bright’s breach of the party’s constitution. “By this release, a notice is hereby given that Mr Addae Bright, aka Zakpo, is no longer a member of the party and all members must treat him as such.”
However, this action has raised questions about the party’s consistency in handling similar cases within its ranks.
The expulsion of Addae Bright comes in stark contrast to the NPP resisting efforts to have the seats of members going independent in constituencies where the party has sponsored candidates declared vacant.
