Six constituencies, each with incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs), have been excluded from the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) parliamentary primaries scheduled for today, January 27, 2024.

The affected constituencies include Mampong and Fomena in the Ashanti Region, Binduri in the Upper East Region, Agona West in the Central Region, Akwapim South in the Eastern Region, and Sunyani East in the Bono Region.

This decision stems from a myriad of challenges, including court injunctions and internal issues that have been brought to the attention of the party's national leadership. Notably, Fomena is grappling with a visible rift as an independent candidate emerges from the party's ranks, despite having a sitting MP.

Sunyani East faces a High Court rejection of the constituency album, leading to a temporary halt in the election of constituency executives. Meanwhile, in Akwapim South, regional executives are engaging in 'broader consultation' following the withdrawal of the sitting MP, OB Amoah, from the race.

In an interview on Asempa FM on Thursday, January 25, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the NPP, identified the affected constituencies. He mentioned that he has not received official notification about a potential seventh constituency, the Upper Denkyira East, yet.

Despite these challenges, Kodua assured that the party is fully prepared for the primaries. He disclosed that ballots and election materials have been printed and are ready for distribution. Expressing confidence, he anticipated that the elections would conclude by the 2 pm closing time, urging stakeholders to ensure a smooth exercise.

The NPP had cleared 326 parliamentary aspirants for the January 27 primaries, aimed at selecting candidates for constituencies where the party currently holds parliamentary seats. Out of the 373 aspirants who initially filed to contest after vetting, 33 are running unopposed, while 11 were disqualified, and two others were referred to the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Adding to the complexities, two candidates who were initially cleared have since withdrawn, one submitted incomplete forms, and two did not attend the vetting process. The parliamentary primaries are a critical step for the NPP as it navigates internal challenges and works towards finalizing candidates to represent the party in the upcoming parliamentary elections in December.