The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has extended deadline for the filing of nominations for aspirants seeking to contest national positions in the party.

This is due to the rescheduling of date for the national delegates' congress from March 1 to April 12, 2014. Aspirants were expected to file nominations from the 7th to 10th of February.

The party was divided over the proposal by the national executives to hold a decentralized delegates' congress.

This decision was fiercely rejected by the NPP Members of Parliament who wanted a centralized congress.

But after a crunch meeting at the party headquarters, the National Executive Council agreed on a centralized congress to be held in Tamale in the Northern region on April 12 to elect new national executives.

Speaking to CitiNews, NPP’s Director of elections, Martin Adjei Mensa-Korsah said due to the extension of date for the elections, “we anticipate that it is just fair to extend the time”.

According to him, 46 people have picked up nomination forms to contest various national positions in the party.

Martin Adjei Mensa-Korsah said the national election committee will fix a new date for the filing on nominations.

Meanwhile, seven persons have been appointed to occupy vacant positions of the Northern regional executive committee of the NPP.

This is in accordance with article 7 clause 2(a) of the party’s constitution. They were appointed by the NPP’s Northern regional Chairman, Daniel Bugri Naabu to augment the activities of the regional leadership ahead of the delegates' congress in April.