Former Attorney General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo is warning the New Patriotic Party (NPP) risks staying in opposition if it does not address the Akyem-Ashanti rift in the party.

The seeming rift between the two ethnic groups is said to have contributed to the party’s electoral losses in 2008 and 2012.

Nii Ayikoi Otoo, who has declared his intention to contest the party’s national chairmanship position, said the two ethnic groups must unite to present a formidable candidate that will help the party capture political power in the 2016 elections.

He was addressing TESCON members at the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region.

Richard Kojo Nyarko who was present at the meeting reported the NPP Constitution Affairs chairman as saying his motivation to becoming the chairman of the party is to help foster unity within the party.

“In the runoff in 2008 when Nana Addo had 49.9 per cent and needed just a small number of votes to cross the 50 per cent mark the evidence was that the Ashantis did not come out to assist.

“This divide in the middle of our party continues up till today and before you contest elections for National office you must align yourself with one of the group.

According to him, Prof Mike Ocquaye who was on his way to becoming the NPP chair at some point had his dreams dashed because there was an order to have Harouna Esseku elected as chairman.

“If you don’t do something about it, we will never come to power again," he warned.