The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has formally appealed a decision by the party’s Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) to exclude some TESCON Presidents from voting in the party’s upcoming presidential primaries scheduled for 31 January 2026.
In a detailed petition addressed to the Chairman of the PEC, Mr Mustapha described the ruling—which bars TESCON Presidents appointed after 19 July 2025—as inconsistent with the TESCON Regulations (2022, as amended) and contrary to long-standing party practice.
Basis of the Appeal
According to the Youth Organiser, the affected TESCON Presidents were lawfully appointed under Regulation 9(n) of the TESCON Regulations, which empowers the National Youth Organiser to appoint interim executives where elections cannot be held in recognised tertiary institutions.
He explained that academic calendars vary across tertiary institutions, making uniform TESCON elections impractical in some cases. As a result, the appointments were made following mandatory consultations and approvals, and are therefore valid and binding on the party.
Mr Mustapha further cited Regulation 9(q), which provides that the tenure of TESCON executives lasts one academic year, noting that the regulations do not impose any restrictions based on the date of the National Annual Delegates Conference.
Alleged Inconsistencies and Precedent
The appeal also points to what the Youth Wing describes as a contradiction between the PEC’s ruling and its own earlier directive. In a letter dated 26 August 2025, the PEC invited all TESCON Presidents from recognised tertiary institutions to register for inclusion in the presidential primary voters’ register, with the deadline later extended to 30 October 2025.
According to the petition, all affected TESCON Presidents complied with this directive in good faith and were duly registered.
Historically, appointed TESCON Presidents have always been allowed to vote in internal party elections, including the 2023 presidential primaries, the Youth Organiser noted, arguing that any deviation from this practice without a formal amendment or National Council decision amounts to arbitrary rule-making.
Risk of Disenfranchisement
Mr Mustapha warned that the ruling, if maintained, would disenfranchise 59 TESCON Presidents, potentially exposing the party to legal challenges, internal tensions, and reputational damage ahead of the primaries.
He also cautioned that the decision could demoralise the student wing of the party and weaken youth mobilisation, recalling the adverse impact of similar exclusions during the party’s internal processes in 2022.
Relief Sought
The Youth Wing is urging the PEC to:
Immediately rescind the ruling excluding TESCON Presidents appointed after 19 July 2025;
Affirm the voting rights of all lawfully appointed TESCON Presidents serving within their valid tenure; and
Ensure that the January 31 presidential primaries are conducted strictly in accordance with party law, fairness, and established precedent.
The petition has been copied to the Acting National Chairman and the General Secretary of the party. As of publication, the Presidential Elections Committee has not publicly responded to the appeal.
