Member of Parliament(MP) for Akwatia, Lawyer Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has criticised his colleagues who openly endorse candidates in internal party elections, arguing that their positions give them significant influence over delegates and party supporters within their constituencies.
Speaking on Asempa FM, Baidoo said party discipline should prevent sitting MPs from taking sides in internal elections because they control political structures within their constituencies.
“If discipline still exists in our parties, they should not permit MPs to take sides in internal elections,” he stated.
According to him, an MP’s influence extends across the constituency, meaning that openly supporting a candidate could influence followers and party members to vote for that candidate.
“The MP controls his entire jurisdiction, and taking sides means he is influencing his followers to choose the side he has taken,” he said.
Baidoo also questioned how MPs who openly campaign against a candidate would work with that person if the candidate they supported eventually loses the election.
“If the one they support does not win, how can they navigate their way to work with the elected member since they openly declared they did not support them?” he asked.
He argued that maintaining neutrality would help preserve working relationships and party cohesion after internal elections.
