The 2012 presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has postponed his scheduled return to the country.

Nana Akufo-Addo was initially scheduled to arrive in the country on January 27, and announce his political future. He has been out of Ghana since August 2013 when the Supreme Court dismissed a petition he and two others brought challenging the validity of the election of President John Mahama at the 2012 presidential poll.

Information gathered by Myjoyonline.com however, indicate the trip to Ghana  has now been defered to March when the party's national elections would have been held. The regional elections form part of a series of elections to be conducted by the NPP ahead of the selection of its next presidential canddiate later in 2014.

According to sources, the decision to postpone the return to Ghana is to avoid the situation where the former flagbearer will be drawn into the internal acrimonious elections.

A post on Facebook by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a close ally of the 69-year-old experienced politician, appears to confirm this information.

"I've heard a lot of moves to welcome Nana Addo's return on January 27th, two days after the regional elections of the NPP. Encouraging. But, really, considering he has been able to keep himself out of all the internal jostling for positions and the big one is due March 1, is there not a case for him to continue same way and stay put to return after March 1st?

"Fostering unity is key, let him maintain his distance to the end, if you ask me. An extra six weeks away may do more good and no harm."

Some party big shots, including incumbent General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie have openly indicated their support for the twice failed presidential hopeful, should he decide to make a third bid for the presidency.