The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has come under increasing pressure to address incidents of violence that marred its ongoing constituency elections, with the party warning that members found responsible will face disciplinary action after police investigations and any related court proceedings are concluded.
Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Haruna Mohammed, said the party would allow the security agencies to complete their investigations before activating its internal disciplinary processes against any member found to have engaged in violence or other criminal conduct.
Speaking on News Digest on Citi FM on Saturday, July 11, Haruna Mohammed stressed that the severity of any sanctions would depend on the outcome of investigations and the nature of the offences committed.
“It depends on the weight of the investigations or the crime that has been committed,” he said.
His comments follow reports of violence and legal disputes that have overshadowed constituency elections in parts of the country, prompting police investigations and court actions.
Haruna Mohammed said the NPP remained committed to ensuring that its internal electoral processes were conducted in accordance with the law and the party’s democratic principles, insisting that members who violate the rules would not be shielded from disciplinary measures.
He noted that a criminal record is a key consideration for anyone seeking or holding a position within the party, adding that members found culpable would be subjected to the party’s constitutional processes.
“In contesting for position within the party, a criminal record is one of the considerations, and such members will be taken through such processes,” he explained.
According to him, where a serving party executive is found guilty of misconduct warranting sanctions, the NPP will invoke the relevant provisions of its constitution to determine the appropriate punitive measures.
“If it demands that the person is an executive member and because of the punitive measure that has been given to the person, if there is something that we have to trigger within the process of the constitution, then the party will not hesitate to take or figure it out,” he stated.
The latest assurance comes amid growing concerns over recurring violence during internal elections, with observers urging political parties to strengthen discipline and uphold democratic values.
Haruna Mohammed reiterated that the NPP would cooperate fully with the security agencies investigating the incidents while ensuring that any disciplinary action taken by the party is based on established facts and due process.
