Delegates and chairpersons from the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 30 external branches have formally petitioned the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), challenging a directive by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) that bans proxy voting in the upcoming January 31, 2026 presidential primary.
The petition, filed pursuant to Article 4 of the NPP Constitution, argues that the PEC’s announcement on November 6, 2025, is unconstitutional, exclusionary and threatens the rights of external-branch delegates who have historically voted by proxy in national executive and presidential elections.
Delegates Argue PEC Overstepped Its Mandate
According to the petitioners, the PEC lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally prohibit proxy voting. They cite Article 13(2.6), which vests the power to set presidential election rules in the NEC, in consultation with the National Council. The external branches, which are represented on the National Council, contend that they were never consulted.
They describe the directive as ultra vires and therefore void, stressing that no ad-hoc committee should issue rules without satisfying constitutional requirements.
Disenfranchisement of External Delegates
The branches argue that the ban effectively disenfranchises all overseas delegates, who are constitutionally recognised under Article 8 but are unable to travel to Ghana to vote in person. The petition notes that the party has long relied on proxy voting to accommodate this reality.
They accuse the PEC of ignoring operational constraints, saying the removal of proxy voting “overlooks the nature and structure of external-branch participation” and denies them the practical ability to exercise their franchise.
Breach of Legitimate Expectation
The delegates further maintain that the ban violates the principle of legitimate expectation, since proxy voting has been a consistent feature in previous primaries and national executive elections. Abruptly abolishing it without justification, they argue, breaches fairness and natural-justice standards under Article 23 of the 1992 Constitution.
Contravention of Democratic Principles
They also describe the ban as arbitrary and undemocratic, asserting that it contradicts Article 55(5) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 9 of the Political Parties Act, which mandate democratic internal party processes. Excluding an entire category of accredited delegates, they say, is inconsistent with these requirements.
Ignored Proposal and High Cost Burden
The petition reveals that the External Branch Chairpersons’ Caucus submitted an alternative voting proposal to the PEC on November 3, 2025, offering practical and cost-effective options. The PEC, according to the petition, neither acknowledged nor discussed the proposal before announcing the ban.
Delegates say the decision forces them to bear an average cost of USD 3,000 each in travel and accommodation if they are to vote in person, an unfair burden that heavily disadvantages the party’s global membership.
“If Ghana Can Manage Proxy Voting, Why Not the NPP?”
The petitioners also draw comparisons to Ghana’s national electoral system, where proxy voting is well-regulated by the Electoral Commission despite handling millions of voters. They argue that if the EC can manage it, the NPP, known for its organisational strength, has no justification for dismantling an internal system that has worked for years.
They describe the ban as “a convenient or lazy approach” that raises questions about the party’s ability to police its own elections.
The external branches are therefore asking the NEC to declare the PEC’s directive null and void, for being unconstitutional and procedurally flawed and further reinstate proxy voting or adopt a practical alternative that allows external delegates to participate in the January 2026 presidential primary.
The NEC has yet to issue a public response to the petition.