NPP to open nominations for 2016 flagbearership race on June 6, subject to the approval of the national executive council.

Nominations for the opposition New Patriotic Party flagbearer contest should open next month once a tentative date of June 6 is approved by the National Executive Council.

December 6 has also been proposed by the party’s Steering Committee to organise congress to elect a presidential candidate for the 2016 elections.

The proposals are in fulfillment of requirements in the party’s constitution which demand that when the party is in opposition, a flagbearer is elected two years before the next election (6th December 2014).

The constitution also requires that nominations be opened six months before the congress (6th June 2014).

The proposals are subject to approval by the National Executive Committee and the National Executive Council of the party.

On Thursday, a meeting of the National Executive Committee to approve the proposal from the Steering Committee was postponed to next week.

The meeting which was Paul Afoko’s first, as chairman, was attended by 2012 flagbearer Nana Akufo Addo and his running mate Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia.

After the Executive Committee approves the proposal next week, the National Executive Council would also have to approve it.

NPP Chairman Paul Afoko who spoke to Joy News’ Joseph Opoku Gakpo after the meeting indicated the National Executive Council is however yet to be set up.

He says the party is working assiduously to constitute the Council as soon as possible.

“Don’t forget that we spent 8 months in court, although the court petition was very important to our party and to this country. But it was also eight months lost to the party. Because according to our timetable, the national executives should have been elected last year. So we really have to put our foot down on the accelerator,” he told Gakpo.

The National Executive Council is the second highest decision making body after congress.