Northern NDC holds peaceful congress

The high anxiety among the leadership and thousands of supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to witness a tension packed and violence related elections in Tamale did not materialize, as the party surprisingly set an “unprecedented record” by holding one of the most peaceful Delegates' Congress to elect new executives for the Northern Region.

The over one hundred heavily armed joint Military/Police force, detailed to the election ground, conducted themselves quite professionally and were able to nip in the bud any potential violence.

Prior to the Congress on Sunday, November 22 2009, the NDC members were heavily divided between the camps of the Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina and Mr. San Nassamu Asabigi, an aspiring regional chairman on one side, and the Regional Chairman, Alhaji Sumani Zakari and Sorfo Azorka on the other side.

Sorfo Azorka eventually won the position of 1st Regional Vice Chairman while Mr. San Nassamu Asabigi was defeated. Prior to the congress, the radio airwaves were inundated with antagonistic views from the opposing camps, and press conferences were held to tongue lash opponents.

Even before the congress started, the Security persons in their attempt to ensure sanity and order, met resistance from the supporters of Alhaji Sumani Zakari, the incumbent chairman, whose followers had tried to escort him into the main WAEC auditorium, where the election was to be held.

In the ensuing melee, the soldiers had to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd, which had ostensibly assumed that the military was employed by the Northern Regional Minister to intimidate and harass supporters of the Regional Chairman.

However, the security personnel commendably prevented the accompanying supporters (with the exception of the delegates) from entering the WAEC hall.

The election, which was supervised by the Northern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr. Sylvester Kanyi, also saw in attendance the National Chairman of the NDC, Dr. Kwabena Agyei, the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the Deputy National Women Organiser, Agnes Adoma, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, 1st National Vice Chairman and Alhaji Seidu Sinari, 2nd National Vice Chairman, as well as some NDC Members of Parliament and District Chief Executives.

In all, about 267 delegates cast their votes, with the incumbent Regional Chairman, Alhaji Sumani Zakari retaining his seat with a total vote of 132, with his fellow contestants, Mr. San Nassamu Asibigi, the former vice chairman and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulai Mobila, bagging104 and 14 votes respectively.

Mr. Awudu Sorfo Azorka was elected as the 1st Vice Chairman with 143 votes, with his two other competitors, Kofi Iddi and Adam Munkaila polling 57 and 27 in that order. Sorfo Azorka's main competitor, Alhaji Gilbert Seidu Iddi, a former Northern Regional Minister, eventually stepped down, allegedly to ensure party unity.

On the other hand, Hon. J.B Mohammed defeated Sulemana Alhassan by 158 to 92 votes to become the 2nd Vice Chairman. The Regional Secretary's position went to Alhaji Imoro Alhassan Yussif Umar, who was the acting Secretary after Alhaji Abdulai Haruna Friday was appointed as the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale. He polled 167 to silence Mohammed Aliu and Issah Issahaku with 67 and 15 votes respectively.

Alhaji Mahama Abdulai Silimboma also maintained his position as Regional Organiser with 151 votes, by defeating Alhaji Alhassan Ibrahim and Gado Abdul-Rahaman with 85 and 14 votes respectively.

Going by the results of the elections, the mandate of almost all the old executives who worked tirelessly in the 2008 general elections to deliver about 23 parliamentary seats out of the 26 in the region to the NDC were renewed, depicting that almost all the candidates the Regional Minister allegedly campaigned for were defeated.

The National Chairman of the NDC, Dr. Kwabena Adjei, in swearing in the new executives into office commended the party supporters for peacefully exercising their democratic rights. He cautioned the new leadership to work hard for unity in the NDC and also come out with comprehensive strategies that would enhance the victory of the party in 2012.

Dr. Adjei announced that the National Executive Committee would soon come out with a date for the National Delegates Congress, once the constituency and the regional elections were over.

The National chairman gave a message of peace to all party supporters by urging them to put the election behind them and to forge ahead in unity for the betterment of the NDC. However, the low point for the day was recorded when the Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina was hooted at when he was delivering his closing remarks, while others just walked out on him.

There was a big celebration by all the victors at the Regional Chairman's residence after the elections.