The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said that it will not step in to defend those who have been detained by the police on suspicion of being involved in disturbances that occurred during a Walewale parliamentary primary.
The Electoral Commission canceled the contest between Dr. Kabiru Mahama and incumbent MP Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu because some ballot papers were stolen, interfering with the sorting and counting process.
As a result of the event, one person has been apprehended by the police.
In a press conference, the party’s general secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, reaffirmed the party’s support for the police and stressed that anyone found to have disrupted the election process will be held accountable by the law.
He stated that the NPP is a party that will not jeopardize peace and stability and that it supports internal democracy and the rule of law.
In the meantime, a meeting of the National Executive Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11, 2024, to determine the course of action to be taken.
Frimpong promised that the outcome of the meeting will be a decision that aims to ensure the party maintains its seat in Walewale, resolve conflicts, and bring the party’s members together in the constituency.
The choice will be made prior to Friday’s deadline for nominations behind closed doors.
He said, “The Ghana Police Service and for the information that we have, we know they arrested some people yesterday so I want us to leave it to the professionals to do their job. But what I can say is that the party will give helpful support to the Ghana Police Service and anyone that will be established as the one being the cause of the chaos in the electoral process will be dealt with according to the laws of the country.”
“The party will not come in to make any plead for such a person. The New Patriotic Party is not known for violence. The New Patriotic Party per our record shows clearly that we are a party that believes in the rule of law.
“We are a party that believes in internal democracy and therefore will not do anything that will undermine the peace and stability in our party.”
“We have the power to deal with issues concerning parliamentary matters and we’ve done it before. So certainly I can assure you that tomorrow a decision will be made by the national executive committee of our party which has to be made because Friday is the deadline for the closed-door nomination.”
“So certainly a decision will be made, and the decision will be based on one that addresses the issues that happen at Walewale, one that will seek to reconcile the party at Walewale and that will also seek to bring unity at Walewale and make sure that the party retain its seat at Walewale.”
Source: Citinewsroom
