Fifty-three angry polling station chairmen of the New Patriotic Party in the Okaikoi South Constituency of the Greater Accra Region have threatened to defect to the opposition National Democratic Congress. They have accused the party’s chairman, Peter Mac Manu, of manipulating processes leading to a constituency primary on Sunday that saw the acclamation of incumbent MP, Nana Akomea, after he was declared the sole candidate. The aggrieved party men say their preferred choice, Mrs Vicky Bright, was unjustly disqualified from the race, and they point accusing fingers at the party chairman and other party officials as those responsible for employing unconstitutional means to scheme her out. They also blamed the chairman for the numerous altercations that have attended the party’s primaries around the country and said since the party hierarchy was working for its demise, they will help speed up the process by campaigning for the NDC to win the December elections unless a proper primary is held. On Sunday, only the timely intervention of the police averted what might have been an unpleasant situation as several irate party followers charged to destroy the primary. National Organiser of the NPP, Lord Commey told Joy News that Mrs Vicky Bright’s application was rejected but her supporters produced documents from the party’s regional headquarters directing that the primary be held on Wednesday. Mr. Mac Manu also told Joy News that Vicky Bright’s disqualification followed her rejection by seven polling station chairmen because she did not meet basic constitutional requirements, including nurturing a constituency. Listen to Mac Manu. According to the party chairman, the leadership of the party even sought to grant her a waiver, but again she failed to receive the approval of the majority of the executives hence her disqualification. He denied that the party hierarchy was undermining the party’s constitution and said none of the accusations levelled against him and his colleagues was true. Author: Isaac Yeboah