Kumasi, May 9, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that its victory in Asawase by-elections signals the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s doom in the next elections in 2008.

A release issued by the Executive Committee of the Suame Constituency of the NDC to congratulate Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak for winning the Asawase seat, said the huge gap between the NDC and the NPP's votes in the final results indicated that Ghanaians were discontent with policies of the NPP, and poised to remove it from office come 2008.

Mr Ibrahim Yakubu, Suame Constituency Secretary of the NDC, signed the release.

The release debunked reported claims by Mr. Haruna Esseku, National Chairman of the NPP, that his party lost the by-elections due to acts such as tribalism and falsehood, perpetrated against it by the NDC. It said contrary to the NPP Chairman's claims, the by-elections were conducted in an atmosphere of fairness and transparency and devoid of any forms of violence or tribalism.

The release asked Mr Esseku to accept the defeat in good faith and "with good grace" and cease blaming the NDC for their mal-performance. The NDC commended the security services for being vigilance, saying that largely contributed to the success of the elections and hoped they would do same in future elections.