Wa, March 24, GNA - Mr John Donkor, Wa Central Constituency Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday called on the Party's leadership to give its support to Professor Alhassan Wayo Seini, who is contesting the Tamale Central bye-election as an independent candidate. He said political parties thrived on numbers and since Professor Seini had come back home, he should be accepted whole-heartedly and given human and material support to enable him recapture the seat.

"Asking supporters in the constituency to vote for any candidate of their choice will not serve the larger interest of the Party," Mr Donkor said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Wa. He, however, welcomed the party's decision not to contest the bye-election, saying it was a demonstration of its commitment to see sustainable peace return to Dagbon. Mr Donkor said although putting up a candidate would have enabled the party to assess its current strength in the constituency and boost the morale of its supporters, not contesting in the interest of peace was the best decision to take, he said.

"Since the Dagbon crises have been politicised by some politicians with some members of our party being accused of complicity in the events culminating in the murder of the Ya-Na without any proof or justification, it is better for the party not to wade into the difficult political terrain of Tamale Central until peace finally returns to the area".

The Tamale Central seat became vacant when Professor Seini, who was the NDC Member Parliament for that Constituency, defected to the NPP where he was one time the national second vice-chairman. The NPP has however, decided not to contest the bye-election, citing maintenance of peace in the area as one of its key reasons.