NPP-USA Rejects National Party Election Guidelines, Votes to Use Own Constitution for 2026 Branch Polls

Story by Fada Amakye

The NPP-USA Branch Executive Committee has resolved to conduct its 2026 internal elections under the existing NPP-USA Branch Bylaws, rejecting key directives in a National Party memorandum that the branch says would override its constitutionally guaranteed autonomy.

In a confidential memorandum dated 28 May 2026 to the NPP Acting Chairman and General Secretary, Branch Secretary Augustine Yao Agbenaza communicated the committee’s decision, adopted by a 20-9 majority vote at an emergency virtual meeting on 27 May 2026.

The dispute centers on National Party Memorandum Ref. NPP/HQ/2026/05/21/EB/GS, which directed External Branches to use a National Officer to chair elections, adopt a three-member elections committee, and limit the Branch Executive Committee to one representative. NPP-USA argues these directives amount to “constitutional displacement,” not permissible “supplementation” under Article 18 of the NPP Constitution (2025).

Article 8(4) of the Constitution expressly confers on External Branches the authority to ‘enact rules and regulations to govern their activities,’” the memo states. NPP-USA’s Bylaws, last amended 7 March 2021, vest appointment power for the Elections Committee in the Branch Executive Committee and designate the Director of Research & Elections and Director of IT as permanent members.

The branch insists it welcomes National Officers as observers, but objects to a National Officer chairing and controlling the committee. “Observation preserves Branch autonomy while assuring the National Party of electoral integrity; chairmanship displaces it, Agbenaza wrote.

The committee also cited U.S. law, noting NPP-USA Inc. is a New York not-for-profit corporation. Under New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law §717(a), directors must act in conformity with corporate bylaws, and ignoring them could expose officers to liability under §720.

The Bylaws require 4 years’ good standing for candidates vs 2 years in the NEC guidelines; 1 year for voters vs 2 years; electronic voting before the conference vs in-person/e-voting platform; and a five-member elections committee vs three-member.

While rejecting directives (i), (ii) and (iii), NPP-USA said it will comply with reporting through the Director of External Affairs, submit electoral albums to a properly constituted committee, and engage on timelines. It also plans to consider aligning its 1-year voting threshold with the Constitution’s 2-year minimum at its next Delegates Conference in Massachusetts, 24-26 July 2026.

The branch called for harmonization through constitutional amendment under Article 19, not administrative directives, and urged the National Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee to provide an opinion. It also flagged unanswered prior correspondence to National Headquarters.

We remain unconditionally committed to the ideals, values, democratic traditions, and constitutional principles of the New Patriotic Party, the memo concludes. This decision is not a departure from those principles, it is an affirmation of them.