The right-wing faction pushing for democratic reform within the New South Wales branch of the Liberal party has smacked down a proposal fielded in the media to install the former immigration minister Philip Ruddock as president, saying it is "rigged" to deny members their right to vote in preselections to decide political candidates.

Right-wing figures Senator Jim Molan and Walter Villatora emailed members late on Thursday night to say that a media report suggesting Mr Ruddock had been endorsed by both factions was wrong and an attempt by the party's wets to water down the democratic reforms, approved by the membership last year.

Former immigration minister Philip Ruddock wants to be the NSW Liberal party's president but his candidacy is being flatly rejected internally. Credit:Nick Moir

"We had no knowledge of this and have had nothing to do with its derivation," said Mr Villatora and Senator Molan.

"Apparently the so-called unity ticket is designed to achieve some kind of "peace" so that the Liberal Party can win at the State and Federal level in the coming elections. But compromising to this extent is unlikely to bring the peace we all want, because it goes against the members' wishes at Rosehill. How can you have peace by ignoring the members' wishes?"