The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the party’s second-highest decision-making body, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, unanimously dismissed a petition seeking to block Paul Awentami Afoko from contesting for National Chairman.

Unknown petitioner(s) had written to the Council seeking to have Mr. Afoko barred from the race, but the grounds were not disclosed.

The matter was tabled by the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the party, but speaker after speaker, including some national and regional officers of the party, opposed the move, which ultimately failed to see the light of day.

Though the contents of the petition were not made public, the National Council outrightly dismissed it and affirmed that the former National Chairman is qualified to contest the polls.

The development comes just ahead of the opening of nominations, filing, and vetting for national officers of the NPP.

Many within the party suggest the petition was a last-minute reaction to the announcement of Mr. Afoko’s bid ahead of the National Delegates’ Conference slated for September 2026.

The party’s legal team and some senior leaders who attended the meeting reportedly opposed the petition, arguing against the move by the faceless petitioner(s).

Since declaring his intent to return as National Chairman, Afoko’s message has focused on three main themes: party unity and reconciliation. His core pitch centres on healing the NPP.

Mr. Afoko has been touring constituencies with a message of reuniting, rebuilding, and returning the NPP to power under what he calls the 3Rs Agenda.

He has been pushing to reunite factions that split after the 2024 post-election leadership crisis and to bring back members who left or were sidelined.

The former National Chairman has also campaigned on giving more power and respect to polling station executives, constituency executives, and the rank-and-file.

Key promises of better welfare, logistics, and inclusion in party decision-making have also been highlighted as Afoko frames himself as the leader who can reorganize the NPP’s base after the 2024 loss.

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