A coalition of ward coordinators of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tamale South Constituency of the Northern Region has given the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party a two-week-ultimatum to outline plans to conduct constituency elections in all constituencies in the region.
The constituency elections, according to the coalition, will pave way for regional and national conferences to elect new national officers for the party ahead of the 2016 general elections.
At a news conference in Tamale on Saturday, the group threatened to hit the party leadership with a series of unpleasant actions should the NEC and the party hierarchy in the region fail to heed their demands.
Spokesperson for the coalition, Prince Yakubu Andani, addressed the news conference and accused the NDC leadership of deliberately delaying the elections for their selfish gains.
According to him, Article 16, clause (1) of the party’s constitution states that “there shall be a constituency conference held once within twelve (12) months after every general election to elect party officers at a venue within the constituency”.
He wondered why the party leadership continues to violate the provision.
Mr. Andani said the decision to hold internal party elections in December this year will not help the NDC foster peace and unity after the conferences.
“It is obvious members will step on each other’s toes during the elections, so organizing the elections now will afford members the opportunity to settle their differences to help organize party structures effectively to retain power in 2016”, he explained.
He warned leadership of the party not to delude themselves into thinking that the NDC will walkover the opposition New Patriotic Party in the 2016 general elections.
The party, he said, must therefore address the coalition’s concerns urgently since the lingering issues have caused widespread disenchantment among members.
