A senior member of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Paul Collins Appiah-Ofori, has told XYZ News that his party’s 2012 Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should be made the “automatic” successor of the party’s 2012 Presidential Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mr. Appiah-Ofori said Dr. Bawumia has proven himself worthy of being the party’s flagbearer due to his role in the ongoing election petition case.

Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia and the party’s National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey are challenging the results of the 2012 presidential election in court.

Dr. Bawumia is the key witness for the petitioners.

The former Asikuma Odoben Brakwa legislator told XYZ News that: “If the petition goes in our favour and Akufo-Addo becomes the head of state, after serving his two terms, Dr. Bawumia becomes automatic presidential candidate for NPP”.

P. C. Appiah-Ofori, however, said Dr. Bawumia should only make a claim for the presidential slot if Nana Akufo-Addo expresses disinterest in contesting for the third time, should the petition go against the party.

“If [the petition] doesn’t go in Nana -Addo’s favour and Nana Addo may not contest again, then Bawumia is qualified to contest,” adding that: “As long as Akufo-Addo says he won’t contest again, Bawumia becomes our automatic choice”.

Mr. Appiah-Ofori said in his opinion, Dr. Bawumia should be considered above former presidential aspirants of the party, including Alan Kyeremanten.

He said: “So far Dr. Bawumia has performed really well and given the chance, he will perform well as the president”.