The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Sweden Branch, Richard Oti-Aboagye, has distanced himself from a petition challenging the “no proxy voting” directive issued by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC), describing the document as “misleading, constitutionally unsound, and politically unhelpful.”

In a letter addressed to the party hierarchy and sighted by MyJoyOnline, Mr. Oti-Aboagye said the petition, dated November 10, 2025, falsely suggested that all 30 external branches of the party supported the pushback against the PEC’s guidelines ahead of the upcoming presidential primary.

According to him, several external branch chairpersons, including himself, were not part of the meeting that produced the petition. He argued that the document “creates the false and misleading impression that all thirty external branches were present, represented, and in agreement,” insisting that no formal resolution was ever taken to reflect such a unified stance.

Mr. Oti-Aboagye also defended the PEC, stressing that the committee acted squarely within its constitutional mandate. He noted that the PEC was established by the National Council to independently formulate and implement rules for the presidential primaries, including decisions such as the ban on proxy voting.

“It would be contrary to the intent and spirit of that delegation of authority to insist that every operational guideline must be separately sanctioned by the National Council,” he stated, warning that such an expectation would “paralyse the PEC and undermine the very purpose for which it was established.”

He further dismissed claims that the directive was unfair or targeted, explaining that the PEC consults all presidential aspirants and their representatives.

Selectively contesting one guideline, he said, could set a precedent that plunges the internal election process into destabilising disputes.

The Sweden Branch Chairman also justified the PEC’s decision, arguing that while proxy voting had been used in the past, it posed administrative challenges, including verification issues and potential abuse. The move, he said, should be seen as “a responsible administrative evolution aimed at ensuring a credible and transparent process.”

Mr. Oti-Aboagye cautioned that public petitions against party organs risk projecting disunity at a sensitive moment as the NPP prepares for the 2028 general election. He urged members to prioritise discipline, due process, and constructive engagement.

He concluded by calling on the National Executive Committee to note that the petition does not represent the collective position of all external branches, affirm the PEC’s authority, and encourage continued dialogue “without undermining the committee’s operational autonomy or delaying the presidential primary process.”