The leadership of the New Patriotic Party in the Northern Region has condemned the violence that ensued at the Tamale metro office of the Electoral Commission during the limited registration at the area, accusing the NDC of staging the violence.
The group called on the police to deal with the perpetrators of the violence adding that it will serve as a deterrent for future troublemakers.
In a statement, the Northern Region NPP Director of Communications, Sule Salifu also asked the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to as a matter of urgency condemn the ‘unacceptable behaviour’ of their members.
Gunshots were heard at the Tamale metro office of the Electoral Commission on Monday during the limited registration exercise.
The gunfire, according to reports, was to disperse the last batch of persons who were due to register.
It was earlier alleged that some NPP youth carried out the shootings.
However, the Northern Region NPP have been accusing the NDC of taking advantage of the limited voter registration exercise to create mayhem.
“NPP has taken notice of an attack of prospective registrants by thugs belonging to the NDC and wish to unequivocally condemn this. The EC had at the close of registration on Sunday issued out numbers to those who were unable to register by close of day Sunday.”
“We will also like to call on the leadership of the NDC in the region to unreservedly condemn this unacceptable behaviour of their party man. This will send an unmistakable message of rejection of violence of any form. Failure to do this will rightly be viewed as a tacit endorsement of the violent conduct of Amaru and will inform future response of the NPP to same.”
Narrating what lead to the attacks, the statement explained that one NDC activist popularly known as Amaru attacked the brother of a young lady who was in the queue to register with a stone after a misunderstanding.
“On Monday 8th July, 2019 a young lady turned up to register bearing her EC signed sheet which unfortunately was scrambled. In the ensuing debate of whether to allow her to register or not, one NDC activist popularly called Amaru of the Timber market picked a stone and hit the face of a brother of the prospective registrant. This led to chaotic scenes leading to, sadly, an abrupt end of the registration process. “
“We will like to call on the police metro command to treat this as a criminal matter and to as a matter of urgency investigate to determine culpability and punish same. This will serve as a deterrence to others who may have intentions of disrupting future programs of institutions of state in furtherance of our democracy.”