The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) believes the New Patriotic Party (NPPs) Ablekuma South Parliamentary candidate, Ursula Owusu, might have provoked the people of Odododiodoo by mocking them to merit the beating she was subjected to.

Joseph Ade Coker, Greater Accra Chairman of the party opines that the posture of the NPP Parliamentary aspirant had a lot to do with the unfortunate incident that occurred last Wednesday. According to him, “Ursula Owusu walked teasingly with a macho man right in the face of the people thus provoking them”.

Ursula Owusu was assaulted at Tarzan, a registration centre in the Odododiodio constituency by persons alleged to be NDC activists, after she had visited the area to encourage traders in the central business district to partake in the on-going biometric exercise.

She, together with Abu Jinapor, an aide to the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, were set upon by hoodlums in the constituency.

The attack has prompted widespread condemnation from civil society groups and some sections of the media.

But some NDC executives have defended the action by the thugs claiming Ursula rather insulted Gas by casting aspersions on them. According to Mr Ade Coker, he is reliably informed that Ursula Owusu reportedly denigrated Gas.

Speaking in an interview on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, the Greater Accra NDC Chairman noted that as much as “the incident is regrettable and shouldn’t be encouraged, he wondered why “Ursula will cross over borders to somebody’s territory”.

“It is regrettable that things happened like that but Ursula is contesting Ablekuma south, a very big constituency so what has she got to do to crossing borders to Odododiodio, somebody’s territory...She went there and according to reports went to tell the Gas that they’ve sold all their lands and houses as shops…and she expected the people to be happy with that. I was at the MTTU with Nii Ashietey and others when we saw Ursula Owusu with a macho man behind her walking and teasing the people there. The people nearly lynched her at the MTTU because she was calling their bluff so they started insulting her. …whatever she might have said or didn’t say provoked the people,” he added.