I would refuse any campaign for the vice presidency if I were the standard bearer – Appiah-Kubi

Andy Appiah-Kubi, a National Council member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed his displeasure with party members campaigning for the position of running mate for the upcoming 2024 general elections.

According to him, it is unconstitutional for individuals to campaign for the election of a vice-presidential candidate.

Talk to JoyNews, Mr Appiah-Kubi clarified that such actions are unfair to the party’s presidential candidate, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as they will distract him.

“I’ve heard different names floating around, but as I know, in seasons like this, everyone wants to be heard, so people do pointless campaigns, and I’ve heard a lot of them.

“Is it only by virtue of our constitutional precepts that we are supposed to campaign for selection? The answer is no. So anyone who is just campaigning, I am sure they are wasting their time,” he said.

Mr. Appiah-Kubi said that if he were a presidential candidate, he would refuse the nomination of anyone who ran for office and campaigned in an unconstitutional manner.

“I would have disappointed them because I don’t appreciate the aggression that people put into a campaign like that.

“It is unconstitutional and unfair to the presidential candidate. It’s very, very unfair. He must have the peace of mind that he can look at the whole army and choose the one that fits his profile,” he said.

The NPP National Council member said it was inappropriate for people to influence Dr Bawumia by engaging others in the media and citizens to campaign for them.

He stressed that he had never seen any presidential candidate face such campaigns as those seen recently.

Furthermore, Mr Appiah-Kubi said there have been situations where the National Council has confirmed certain candidates and situations where it has refused confirmation.

He noted: “So it could be A or B. So for now, we are just waiting for the presidential candidate to exercise his mandate by designating one of the party members as his running mate.”

Meanwhile, Mr Appiah-Kubi has disapproved of the vice-presidential candidate allegedly presented by the party’s flag bearer.

According to Asante Akim North MP, Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, is not the right choice to partner the party’s flagbearer in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Also Read: Opoku Prempeh is not the right choice to partner with Bawumia – Appiah-Kubi

He argued that Mr Opoku Prempeh is not acceptable to the entire NPP base, especially the Members of Parliament, adding that the Energy Minister cannot campaign effectively in many constituencies.

“I would not address a majority because we have not been consulted as a caucus to be able to express our position. But for me, Appiah-Kubi, you can ask me my opinion on this. If it was up to me to choose, I would not choose him. He is not my preferred candidate. ‘Appiah-Kubi says he is not my preferred candidate’, but that does not mean he is not qualified,” he said.

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