Tema — It is clear that the problems brewing within the rank and file of the membership of the Tema West branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not died down.

This is because the majority of the old executives, numbering about six, have issued a press statement rejecting the constituency election which was held last Sunday, saying it was done against the rules and regulations of the party, and therefore should be declared null and void.

"We, the majority of the constituency, and polling station executives of the Tema West branch of the NPP, want to make it clear that the so-called election conducted by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Irene Naa Torshi Addo, and the constituency chairman, Mr. Asure Sampana, on Sunday November 22, 2009, which was meant to have elected new constituency executives, using the disputed constituency album compiled by the MP and chairman against the laid down rules governing the elections of polling station executives, and which matter is before a High Court in Tema, is null and void, and of no consequence," the press release stated.

According to the old executives, the release has become necessary, because of two issues, firstly, a letter from the National Chairman of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu, and secondly, a law suit currently pending before a Tema High court.

It stated that Mr. Mac Manu issued a letter dated November, 16 2009, suspending all activities in connection with the polling station election in the constituency, until the matter had been adequately dealt with.

With this, they least expected that any one would organise an election to select constituency officers to run the affairs of the constituency at this time.

The press release, which was signed by Dr. M. K. Antwi and Henry Osei-Owusu, second vice chairman and secretary in the constituency respectively, assured the rank and file of the party to remain calm, "As we await the national chairman's directives," adding that until then, all members of the party should disregard the election.

Mr. Osei-Owusu, later in a telephone interview, told the paper that they (the six executives) don't regard the polling station elections conducted earlier by the MP and chairman.

But, if the national and regional executives refuse to address their concerns, then they would conduct their own elections, and elect their own executives to contest at the parliamentary primaries.

When contacted, Naa Torshi denied that they conducted the elections against the rules and regulations of the party.

According to her, she did not understand why Mr. Osei-Owusu and the others continue to kick against the polling station election, describing it as null and void.

She explained that after all the noise they made, the national executives called them and herself to a meeting in Accra to resolve the matter, and surprisingly they could not come out with a single proof of their allegations against her.

It was as a result of the outcome of the meeting, that the national executives of the party cleared the constituency to go ahead of the constituency elections.