The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has unanimously dismissed a petition seeking to prevent former National Chairman, Paul Awentami Afoko, from contesting the party’s upcoming National Chairman Election, effectively clearing the way for his comeback bid.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s second-highest decision-making body on Thursday, June 25, 2026 after members rejected the petition, which had sought to disqualify Mr Afoko from the race.
Although the identity of the petitioner or petitioners and the grounds for the request were not disclosed, The Chronicle understands the matter was tabled before the Council by the Chairman of the NPP Council of Elders.
Sources at the meeting confided in this reporter that speaker after speaker opposed the petition, with several national and regional executives reportedly arguing that there were no sufficient grounds to bar the former National Chairman from contesting.
The National Council subsequently dismissed the petition and affirmed that Mr. Afoko is eligible to participate in the election.
The decision comes just days before the party opens nominations, filing and vetting for national executive positions ahead of its National Delegates Conference scheduled for September 2026.
Party insiders believe the petition may have been a last-minute attempt to derail Mr. Afoko’s renewed bid for the chairmanship, following his recent declaration of intent to contest.
The party’s legal team and several senior officials are also reported to have opposed the petition, insisting that any attempt to exclude a qualified aspirant without justifiable grounds would undermine the party’s democratic processes.
Since announcing his comeback, Mr. Afoko has centred his campaign on what he describes as the “3Rs Agenda”- Reuniting, Rebuilding and Returning the NPP to power.
His campaign has focused heavily on promoting unity and reconciliation within the party, particularly following divisions that emerged after the party’s 2024 electoral defeat and subsequent leadership disputes.
As part of his nationwide campaign, the former National Chairman has been touring constituencies, calling for the healing of internal divisions and urging members who have become inactive or marginalised to return to the party.
He has also pledged to strengthen the grassroots by empowering polling station and constituency executives through improved welfare, better logistics and greater involvement in the party’s decision-making processes.
Mr. Afoko maintains that rebuilding the party from the grassroots and restoring internal cohesion will be critical to the NPP’s efforts to reclaim power in the next general election.
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