The WA Greens are in turmoil over wheelchair-bound 22-year-old Jordon Steele-John entering the Senate, as acrimony grows over his elevation not being put to a vote of the party’s membership.

Mr Steele-John’s initial reaction to being revealed as the next candidate on the Greens’ 2016 Senate ticket after the shock resignation of Scott Ludlam was to declare he would be “happier putting the choice of candidate back in the hands of our membership”.

That was interpreted as him agreeing to not accept the seat in the likely event of an automatic re-count of the 2016 results, triggering a casual vacancy which would, under the party’s constitution, have to go to a ballot of members.

Mr Steele-John’s July 14 undertaking earned him kudos in the party which prides itself on its grassroots decision-making.

Camera Icon Jordon Steele-John is set to replace Scott Ludlam as the Greens' representative in the Senate.

It is understood Mr Steele-John asked for and received assurances he could contest the ballot, but community legal centre lawyer Kate Davis, former State MP Lynn MacLaren and Canning councillor Christine Cunningham were among others interested.

The West Australian has been told that Mr Steele-John could not be contacted for several days after that, but re-emerged with a changed mind. He declared on July 20 that after “careful reflection ... I am ready to do this job” and thanked the party, which offered “all support ... to Jordon in his new role”.

But it has caused bitter internal angst given Mr Steele-John would enter the Senate without a ballot, which was not carried out last year because his No.3 spot on the ticket was not considered winnable.

“He should resign and stand in the casual vacancy election so that the membership is given a say,” one Facebook user, Harry Holbrook, posted on Mr Steele-John’s profile. It is understood party officials are not prepared to ask him to withdraw, conscious of the appearance of the Greens torpedoing the fledging career of a disability advocate with cerebral palsy.

Mr Steele-John yesterday declined to be interviewed. He referred questions to the party’s head office.

Dr Cunningham, a for-mer Greens national convenor, said she was strongly in favour of “democratic grassroots decision making”.

“Whether the seat should or shouldn’t go to the party for an open preselection, we didn’t get to make that decision as a membership,” she said. “

“Just like Jordan said two weeks ago, I guess generally I like the idea that candidates stand and face party membership.”