UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Sadat Dabo
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region has unveiled a new strategy for selecting its parliamentary candidates ahead of the 2028 general elections, as the party intensifies efforts to reclaim parliamentary seats from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which currently holds all 15 constituencies in the region
The Regional Secretary of the NPP, Daniel Nsobila Ayine, says the party’s ongoing reorganisation is progressing steadily, with the selection of parliamentary candidates expected to be the next major phase in its preparations to challenge the NDC’s dominance
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Abagna Jose Nelson on URA Sunrise on GBC URA Radio 89.7MHz in Bolgatanga on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Mr. Ayine disclosed that the party had developed a structured approach to identify credible, competent and electorally viable parliamentary candidates
He dismissed concerns that the regional leadership intended to handpick candidates and impose them on constituencies, insisting that the process would be guided by the party’s constitution, research findings, dialogue and elections where consensus fails
“We are not going to impose anyone, and we are not going to disqualify anyone to the benefit of another person,” he stressed
NPP opens parliamentary aspirant declaration process
Mr. Ayine announced that prospective parliamentary aspirants are expected to declare their intentions between November 1 and November 10, 2026, through an online process
He explained that the declaration of intent is designed to enable the party to obtain detailed information about individuals seeking to represent the NPP in the various constituencies
Aspirants will be required to provide details of their contributions to the party, their vision and strategies for winning parliamentary seats
According to him, the declaration process will be followed by workshops and training sessions for prospective candidates across the southern, middle-belt and northern zones
The training, he said, is intended to equip aspirants with a proper understanding of the party’s ideology, the responsibilities of parliamentary candidates and the realities of serving as Members of Parliament
Mr. Ayine argued that some individuals enter Parliament with unrealistic expectations and later regret their decisions because they lack the necessary orientation
The party, he said, wants prospective candidates to understand the demands of parliamentary representation before committing themselves to the contest
Research team deployed to constituencies
In what appears to be a significant component of the NPP’s new parliamentary candidate selection strategy, Mr. Ayine disclosed that the party had already deployed research teams to constituencies across the Upper East Region
He said the teams were tasked with assessing prospective aspirants and determining their suitability and electoral prospects
The Regional Secretary explained that the research process was being handled independently of the regional leadership to prevent personal relationships and political interests from influencing the outcome
He noted that neither the regional chairman nor the regional secretary was aware of the identities of the research team members
Where research findings favour a particular aspirant, the party will initiate dialogue with other contenders in an attempt to reach a consensus
However, Mr. Ayine said where the dialogue process becomes inconclusive, the aspirants would be allowed to contest in an election, with the eventual winner receiving the full support of the party
The approach, he said, is intended to minimise internal divisions and ensure that the party presents candidates capable of challenging the NDC in 2028.
NPP targets four to six seats in Upper East
Mr. Ayine admitted that the party was unhappy with its current electoral position in the Upper East Region, where it failed to win any of the 15 parliamentary seats in the 2024 general elections
He likened the party’s performance to a student returning home with zero marks, saying the outcome was unacceptable and required a strategic rethink
The Regional Secretary, however, expressed confidence that the NPP could reclaim between four and six parliamentary seats in the region
He cited Navrongo Central, Builsa North, Chiana-Paga, Talensi, Nabdam, Zebilla, Binduri, Bawku Central and Tempane as constituencies where the party had previously secured parliamentary victories
Mr. Ayine maintained that the NDC’s current dominance should not be interpreted as a permanent political reality
He said the party was working behind the scenes to identify candidates who could change the electoral fortunes of the NPP in the region
Reorganisation, reconciliation and new party structures
The NPP Regional Secretary further disclosed that the party was making efforts to reconcile members who lost in its internal elections
He said former executives, defeated contestants and other aggrieved members had been reached out to and incorporated into various party committees
According to him, the party’s reorganisation must extend beyond the regional executive level to the polling station, electoral area and constituency structures
Mr. Ayine also revealed that additional appointments were being made to strengthen the party’s administrative structures
These include deputy communication officers at the constituency level, party IT officers and third vice-chairpersons
He said approximately 80 per cent of constituency appointments had been completed, with the regional leadership awaiting submissions from the remaining constituencies
GH¢5,000 declaration fee defended
The Regional Secretary also defended the GH¢5,000 fee associated with the parliamentary aspirant declaration process, dismissing suggestions that the party was using the exercise to raise funds for its operations
He explained that the money was intended to support the cost of workshops, accommodation, feeding and the engagement of resource persons for the training programmes
Mr. Ayine insisted that the NPP was not financially bankrupt but needed aspirants to contribute towards the cost of their own orientation
He added that the declaration of intent did not automatically qualify anyone to become a parliamentary candidate
Prospective aspirants would still have to meet the constitutional requirements, undergo vetting and complete the prescribed selection or election process
Can the NPP break the NDC’s 15-seat dominance
With the declaration of intent process expected to close on November 10, 2026, the NPP’s parliamentary candidate selection exercise is shaping up to be a critical test of the party’s ability to rebuild its political fortunes in the Upper East Region
The party’s emphasis on research, training, dialogue and consensus could determine whether it succeeds in presenting candidates capable of challenging the NDC’s dominance in 2028
For the NPP, the stakes are high: the party must not only reorganise its structures but also convince voters that it has credible candidates and a winning strategy
Source – gbcuraonline.com
