A grand conspiracy against the flagbearer aspirations of Alan Kyeremanten was hatched long before the race for the standard-bearer slot of the main opposition New Patriotic Party began, his Spokesperson Nana Ohene Ntow has alleged.

According to him, elements within Ghana’s biggest opposition party have, at different stages, implored the former trade Minister to ditch his aspirations and allow two-time presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, to go for a third consecutive time without challenge.

“Even before the contest, there were all sorts of campaigns for Alan to withdraw his candidature…it gives it a bit of the flavour of conspiracy,” Ohene Ntow said Monday.

The former NPP General Secretary’s conspiratorial suspicions were aroused following incessant calls on Kyeremanten and three others – Joe Ghartey, Francis Addai-Nimoh and Kofi Osei- Ameyaw – to voluntarily abandon the race following Sunday’s mini congress in which Akufo-Addo garnered more than 80 percent of votes cast by 740 Delegates.

Per the party’s constitution, such a congress need be held to whittle down the number of aspirants if more than five were contesting. About 141,000 delegates will subsequently elect one of the five in a mega congress scheduled for October 18, 2014.

So far second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey, has heeded the calls by party elders to voluntarily opt out of the race. The elders wish Kyeremanten, who garnered the second highest votes – 7.97 percent – in the super delegates’ congress, could do same.

But Ohene Ntow told private FM station, Joy that the suggestion is the latest conspiratorial move against his preferred candidate.