Chairman of the NPP’s Presidential Elections Committee, Joe Osei Owusu, has rejected petitions from party students and diaspora members challenging the ban on proxy voting in the upcoming 2026 presidential primaries.

He insists the restriction will remain in place to safeguard the credibility and smooth conduct of the polls.

Speaking to journalists, Osei Owusu said the committee had carefully reviewed various appeals but concluded that lifting the ban could complicate the electoral process and open the door to disputes.

“We’ve read the petitions presented by sections of the party, and after listening to all that, we came to the conclusion that for the sake of conducting an election that is incident-free and credible, that provision should be maintained,” he stated.

“We will still not have proxy voting in the 2026 presidential primaries.”

The NPP first announced the ban earlier this year as part of guidelines for the presidential primaries, sparking concern among members abroad and students who argue that the decision disenfranchises them.

Petitioners have asked the committee to reconsider, citing the party’s growing international footprint and the need to accommodate members who cannot be physically present.

However, the elections committee maintains that in-person voting is the most reliable system for ensuring transparency, especially in a highly competitive internal contest.

Osei Owusu noted that preserving this rule would help avoid logistical challenges and bolster confidence in the outcome.