The leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party says it cannot be blamed for the defeat of its nominee, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, in Ghana’s 8th Parliament Speakership race. Following the defeat suffered by the party’s candidate in the Thursday, January 7, morning election, some party members including a Member of Parliament blamed the leadership of the NPP. But in a statement signed by Alhaji Iddi Muhayu-Deen, the Press Secretary to the General Secretary said; " It is not true that no national executive of the NPP was present in Parliament at that special sitting to elect a Speaker. Indeed, the General Secretary of the party, John Boadu, representing the national party, spent the whole night in Parliament keenly observing proceedings and communicating with members and leadership of the NPP Majority Caucus on critical matters that were before them".