Sources at the national headquarters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have revealed that President Kufuor has asked some candidates vying for executive positions in the party to step down. President Kufuor is said to have asked a number of candidates to withdraw their candidature and lend their support for candidates identified as his favourites.

A final list of 23 candidates have been approved by the elections vetting committee of the NPP to contest for various executive positions in the party.

The committee, chaired by the party’s outgoing National Chairman, Samuel Odoi Sykes has forwarded its report to the Electoral Commission, which is currently processing ballot papers for the National Delegates Congress on Saturday.

Four hundred and ninety delegates are expected to attend at the Congress. Eleven out of an initial 34 applicants for positions were disqualified for failing to meet the necessary requirements, including the non-payment of dues and generally not being in good standing with the party.

Senior officials of the party who spoke to JOY FM on condition of anonymity said President Kufuor has held a series of meetings with some of the candidates at which he asked them to throw their weight behind his favourites. Even now, with the final list of the candidates out, there are indications that some of the 23 shortlisted contenders will step down.

They are likely to announce the withdrawal of their candidacy at the congress on Saturday.

Party supporters who do not favour the trend of events told JOY FM that it would not do well for the party’s image and internal party democracy.