Independent Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Joe Osei-Wusu, says he will seek re-election on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party in this year’s parliamentary poll. The former DVLA breached party protocol by going independent after losing the primaries to then incumbent MP, Kofi Opoku-Adusei. Mr. Osei–Wusu was subsequently expelled from the NPP though he won the Bekwai seat to represent his people in parliament. He told journalists at a regional rally he is back in the party as a full-fledged member to seek the mandate of the people, once again. The selection of parliamentary candidate for the NPP ahead of 2008 polls turned violent with supporters of incumbent MP, Kofi Adusei-Poku and former DVLA boss Joe Osei-Wusu staging one demonstration after another. The fierce battle was settled when Mr. Osei-Wusu decided to go solo after losing by one vote to his now predecessor, who was then Deputy Minister for Fisheries. Some NPP supporters were angry because Mr. Osei-Wusu was given the platform to address party faithful at Tuesday’s rally because they say he is no more a member. But Mr. Osei-Wusu insists he is back to the NPP fold and qualified to contest on party ticket. “I entered parliament as an independent member but as soon as I entered, I aligned [with the NPP]. I had a choice to align with either the majority or the minority. I chose to align with the minority led by the NPP and have since done business with the NPP”. According to him, there are records in parliament house to prove his association with the NPP. “Officially, with records of parliament, I am a member of the minority”, he stressed. He is optimistic he will lead the party in the 2012 elections for the Bekwai constituency. “First and foremost when nominations are opened, I will contest on the ticket of the NPP and, I am confident that I will win”. Three NPP members went independent in 2008 elections but won. They are Messrs Seth Adjei-Baah, Ofori Kuruagu and Joe Osei-Wusu for Nkawkaw, Bosome Freho and Bekwai constituencies respectively. So what made it possible for Mr. Osei-Wusu who lost his membership status to contest on the ticket of the party he once deserted? Regional Chairman of the NPP, Frederick Fredua Anto says the three have been given amnesty to return back to the NPP. “During the last congress, those three people who went [independent] were given amnesty so all of them are members of our party (NPP)”, he explained.