The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko has called on sympathisers of the party and the general public to disregard the decision taken by the National Executive Committee to suspend him indefinitely . In a show of defiance, Afoko said that the decision taken by the NEC at the meeting was null and void as, per the NPP’s constitution, only the chairman was authorised to call such a gathering; something he did not do. In a statement, Paul Afoko argued further that “the improperly constituted National Disciplinary Committee cannot recommend any indefinite suspension of Mr. Paul Afoko to the National Executive Committee (NEC) whose chairman did not call the meeting that purportedly endorsed the so-called decision of the national disciplinary committee.” The NEC’s decision Friday followed one by the party’s Disciplinary Committee demanding that Afoko, be made to step aside until after the 2016 elections. The meeting went ahead despite chaotic scenes outside the party office where members of the party’s private security burnt a motorbike and destroyed the windscreen of a taxi cab. The First National Vice Chairman of the party, Freddie Blay, who convened the NEC meeting, will act as the National Chairman. Who was at the NEC meeting? Bishop Asante Antwi – Chairman of the party’s disciplinary committee Haruna Eseku – Former chairman of the NPP Bugri Naabu – Bugri Naabu is the Northern Regional Chairman of the party. Hackman Owusu Agyemang –A leading member of the party Treasurer – Abankwah Yeboah Freddie Blay who convened the meeting, The party’s Chairman in the Ashanti Region, Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. KT Hammond Ursula Owusu John boadu Sammy Awuku – National Youth Organizer What does the NPP constitution say? According to the constitution, the National Chairman shall be the convener and the chairman of all the meetings including the National Executive Committee. The committee cannot meet until at least, one-third of the members stated above are present. It however adds that the absence of the National Chairperson, the first National Vice Chairperson shall act in his or her place. Here’s the full statement from Paul Afoko: ILLEGAL NEC MEETING CAN’T SUSPEND PAUL AFOKO AS NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF NPP The attention of Mr. Paul A. Afoko, the national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been drawn to a statement allegedly authored by Nana Akomea, the party’s Director of Communication to the effect that the national chairman has been suspended indefinitely from his position. In his stead, Mr. Freddie Blay, the First Vice National Chairman would act. We want to state in unequivocal terms that the improperly constituted National Disciplinary Committee cannot recommend any indefinite suspension of Mr. Paul Afoko to the National Executive Committee (NEC) whose chairman did not call the meeting that purportedly endorsed the so-called decision of the national disciplinary committee. We insist that an improperly called meeting of the NEC cannot legally deliberate on any matter for it to have the proper effect of binding on Mr. Paul Afoko as the national chairman. The general public is entreated to treat the statement from Nana Akomea with the contempt it deserves and disregard same. Thank you. Nana Yaw Osei Spokesperson for National Chairman, NPP.