The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called off the election of Youth and Women Organizer slots in the Ashanti Region.
“We are meeting all the aspirants at the Regional Party Office. We are meeting to resolve all the issues… If you come late and a decision is taken you will have yourself to blame”, said Nurudeen Hamidan, the Chairman of the Election Committee.
“The aspirants will call me and I will give them the time. Tomorrow somebody is coming from Accra to resolve this issue. And when we arrive at a decision kindly pass on the right information to your supporters. We are not going to tolerate any indiscipline in the party”, he added.
What happened?
Friday’s election suffered delays after it was characterized by standoffs and disagreements.
The violence broke out when candidates were sharply divided about the fate of delegates who belonged to the Tertiary Education Institutions Network, TEIN.
Some supporters in some instances engaged in fisticuffs. Officials of the Electoral Commission were given police protection as the security agency toughly maintain law and order.
The TEIN members had alleged that there was an attempt to disenfranchise their members on grounds of a court injunction.
They expressed disappointment over the development as they chanted war songs and slogans at the election venue.
“This is not the NDC I know”, one of the aggrieved members said. “We are here to vote and if anyone attempts to prevent us, we will fight that person with our blood”.
“We are sending a message to the rank and file of the party that it doesn’t look so well in the Ashanti Region and with this I fear we will lose in 2024”, another said.
Some top party officials and individuals were seen engaging all aggrieved parties to resolve the issue.