Hon Kwadwo Adjei Darko, a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development under the John Agyekum Kuffour administration has stated that the National Investigation Bureau's (NIB) report on Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the most preferred Vice Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) shouldn't have been in the public domain.

He explained, the opinion polls should have been given to the flagbearer to assist him in his choice of the candidate and not be made public for everyone’s consumption.

The Energy Minister, Dr Opoku Prempeh is widely preferred among party members to be the running mate to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, according to a survey by the National Investigation Bureau.

The survey engaged 5,116 NPP delegates nationwide, including national, regional, constituency, and polling station executives.

According to the study, Dr Opoku Prempeh secured 76.2% of the responses from executives polled.

Following him was the Minister of Education and MP for the Bosomtwe, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who garnered 10.16%.

But speaking in an interview with Kwame Agyarko, host of Ade Akye Abiaa show on Sompa FM in Sunyani on Thursday June 20, the former Member of Parliament for Sunyani West constituency of the Bono region indicated that, the NPP cannot coerce Dr Bawumia to select the party's preferred candidate, adding that the selected candidate should be one whom the flagbearer deem fit to be competent enough to assist him in his vision for the country.

He noted that, “The NIB is a state institution, they shouldn’t meddle in partisan politics, and therefore making such report public paints a different mental picture about them. Did they conduct similar opinion polls when former President and flagbearer of the NDC wanted to select his running mate, the answer is no. The outcome of their opinion poll should have been a sole document for Dr Bawumia to read and analyse which of the candidates is best fit to partner him.”

He called on the elephant fraternity to allow the flagbearer settle on his preferred choice rather than mounting pressure on him.

Sompaonline.com/Akua Nyarko Abronoma