NDC executives defend Abuga Pele

The delay by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in organising primaries in the Chiana-Paga Constituency of the Upper East region is creating tension in the party.

Chiana-Paga is the only constituency in the region that has not held its primaries.

Some party members, who described themselves as Concerned Youth of Chiana-Paga, say the development would affect the fortunes of the NDC in the impending general elections.

The Concerned Youth have therefore asked the party to call on the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Chiana-Paga, Abuga Pele to step aside if he is to blame for the delay in the organization of the constituency primaries.

Barely three days after they made the demand, another group, made up 108 branch executives out of the 117 NDC executives in the constituency, questioned the legitimacy of the grouping Concerned Youth of Chiana-Paga.

According to them, “The authors of the petition do not represent any concerned youth of the constituency, but are just doing the biding of one of the aspirants, Rudolf Amenga-Etego. Two of the signatories to the petition-Thomas Jumah and Apuri Nichodemus, do not even reside in the constituency. In fact, they are not even known in the constituency as far as party activities are concerned,” the statement by the executives said.
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The branch executives do not want the current Member of Parliament (MP), Abuga Pele to step aside but want the leader of the party President Mahama to, as a matter of urgency, confer with the national and regional executives of the party to fix a date for the Chiana-Paga primaries to avert further media warfare.

The NDC executives described the Chiana-Paga MP, Abuga Pele as an affable, trustworthy and hardworking person, who can retain the seat for the party in the 2016 elections.

“His loyalty and high sense of commitment to the development of the party cannot be questioned,” the statement said.

While the NDC leadership and members are battling, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Clement Dandori is busily marketing himself and selling his developmental plans ahead of the November 7 polls.