The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Lord Commey, has said the party would choose its candidates by consensus where necessary.

He was speaking in the Northern regional capital, Tamale, where the NPP is vetting parliamentary aspirants who are interested in constituency seats the NPP lost in the 2004 elections.

Mr Commey said the decision was taken by the National Executive Committee of the party but that does not mean it is scrapping the use of primaries to decide on who represents the party in Parliament.

He cautions that it does not mean the party is not abiding by its cherished democratic values and credentials and argues that some past experiences show the party suffered even though candidates were chosen by democratic process.

Out of the 49 people contesting for parliamentary positions seven are district chief executives and the deputy northern regional minister.