Flagbearer John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged calm and peace as the party organizes national demonstrations today against the handling of voter registration anomalies by the Electoral Commission.
Former President Mahama said ahead of the demonstration that the event will be calm and advised attendees not to engage in any kind of violence.
This is a calm protest. It’s hardly a forceful protest. It’s a calm protest. And so avoid coming if you know you cannot be peaceful.
Mahama sends an important message to NDC supporters
“We want only the people of peace to join us,” the NDC flagbearer declared, underlining the party’s will to guarantee discipline over the demonstration.
The NDC’s complaints center on what the party notes as major anomalies in the voter register, discovered during a recent voter exhibition activity.
The EC has turned down requests for a forensic audit of the register notwithstanding calls for one.
The NDC is responding by marching to regional EC offices in all sixteen regional capitals while national executives will present petitions at both the EC headquarters and Parliament in Accra.
Mr. Mahama said in his speech, “The police will be there to protect us; the police are our friends; hence, please respect the police and avoid confrontation. They have not done anything to us; so, do not let anyone go attacking the cops on a peaceful demonstration.
Reiterating the peaceful character of the protest, he also advised participants to silently go home once the petitions are delivered.
With the NDC hoping that their issues will be resolved, Mr Mahama’s statements capture the general drive for electoral reforms ahead of the next elections.
Thousands of people are expected to join the demonstration around the country as the NDC advocates what they see to be the integrity of the voting process.