Disqualified NPP MP aspirant calls for calm

Tema, May 27, GNA- A disqualified New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for Tema East constituency, has appealed to his supporters to desist from acts that could create disunity in the party, due to his exclusion from the primaries.

Mr Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus-Glover said he would not challenge the decision of the national steering committee of the party nor contest the seat as independent candidate in the 2008 Election because that could lead to disunity, tension and chaos in the NPP.

He said these on Monday at a press conference at Tema Manhean to defuse the seemingly tension and threats due to his disqualification. Mr Titus-Glover said "I want to implore all my supporters to forget about voting 'skirt and blouse' during the general election but rather fully support Nana Akuffo-Addo the NPP flagbearer."

The disqualified candidate said his support for the party was greater than his ambition of becoming a Member of Parliament (MP). Mr Titus-Glover said what happened to him was a conspiracy by some officers of the party in Tema and the regional office in Accra to get him out of the race.

He said "my detractors felt threatened when I was cleared by the national steering committee the first time hence their quick move to postpone the primaries to enable them to strategize."

Mr Titus-Glover explained that he submitted to the committee his 2000 voter's identity (ID) card and a letter from the Tema office of the Electoral Commission agreeing to consider his registration.

He said "I was not in Ghana when the current ID cards were issued due to my studies in the UK".

Mr Titus-Glover was among three of the four aspirants who were approved by NPP national steering committee to contest the primaries that was to take place on May 17.

He was disqualified for not possessing a current voter's ID card when the date for the primaries was postponed to May 27. Mr Titus-Glover was the second person to be disqualified with the first being Mr Ramseyer Agyeman Prempeh, education consultant and proprietor of Tema High School leaving the incumbent MP, Mr Ishmael Ashitey and Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, ex-Mayor of Tema as the two qualified aspirants.

Prior to the press conference, supporters of Mr Titus-Glover who were clad in red bands and sang war songs demonstrated through the Tema Manhean township with some carrying placards one of which had the inscription "no Glover, NPP will lose Tema East."

The supporters removed all red bands to signify peace in the constituency as was requested by Mr Titus-Glover.