The New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Executive Council (NEC) has slated Saturday October 18 for its Presidential Primaries.

A release issued by the party’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, Thursday indicated that the primaries will be held in all the 275 constituencies simultaneously.

“This decision was taken at the Party’s National Council Meeting held at Alisa Hotel on Wednesday, 16th July 2014”, the statement said.

The council also set August 31, 2014 as the date for the Special Delegates Congress to elect the first five of the seven persons who have filed to contest the Presidential Primaries.

The Special Delegates Congress became necessary after seven persons filed nominations to contest for the flagbearer slot of the party ahead of general elections in 2016.

They are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo , John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Francis Addai Nimoh, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Osei Ameyaw, Joe Ghartey and Stephen Asamoah Boateng.

Article 12 (5) B of the NPP's constitution states that "where there are more than five contestants for nomination as the party's Presidential candidate, a Special Electoral College shall cast their votes by secret ballot for the first five contestants to be shortlisted."

The race for the party's flagbearer for the 2016 elections is set to draw along familiar lines, tilting in favour of Nana Akufo Addo, two-time winner and his old political foe and Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.

The Special Congress will be held at Regional Centres in all the ten Regions of Ghana.

The Party Headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra will also be designated as a Polling Center for some categories of voters, the statement said.

Read below the entire release signed by the party’s General Secretary:

NPP SETTLES ON OCTOBER 18TH FOR PRESEIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

The New Patriotic Party has penciled 31st August 2014 as the date for the Special Delegates Congress to elect the first five of the seven persons who have filed to contest the Presidential Primaries. The Special Congress will be held at Regional Centres in all the ten Regions of Ghana. The Party Headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra will also be designated as a Polling Center for some categories of voters.

This decision was taken at the Party’s National Council Meeting held at Alisa Hotel on Wednesday, 16th July 2014.

The Council has also scheduled 18th October for the Presidential Primaries to be held in all the 275 constituencies simultaneously. Further guidelines will be communicated in due course.

The five Standing Committees of the National Council were duly constituted. They are Finance, Organisational, Constitutional, Research and Disciplinary Committees. In addition, the Party’s Vetting Committees was put in place.

Regional Officers updated the Council on the state of the Party’s preparedness on the upcoming registration exercise. Furthermore, Party Officers, MPs and key stakeholders of the Party are requested to take the upcoming voter registration exercise seriously and to ensure that most of our members and supporters who have attained the voting age to patronise registration exercise.

Signed

Kwabena Agyei Agyepong

(General Secretary)