Accra, 11 Aug, Accra: The Chairman of the Odododiodoo Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Daniel Nii Okai, has called on members of the party to unite to recapture the seat in the bye-election in the area scheduled for 30th August this year. He said members of the party should "stay together as a family now than ever" to ensure victory in the bye-election to send a signal to the ruling government that the people had rejected the policies it had pursed over the past five years.

Speaking at a rally at the Railway Station Quarters at Agbobloshie in Accra, he stated that "now should not be the period for the NDC to divide into factions" in an apparent reference to the decision by a member who wanted to stand as an Independent in the election.

The member, Mr Walid Anyetei Laryea, who has rescinded his decision, stated that he was going to stand as an Independent following his disqualification from contesting the primary of the party for not having the basic registration card of the NDC.

This cumulated in the breaking up of the party in the area into groups supporting either the official or the Independent candidate. Mr Okai asked the party members to stay solidly behind the NDC candidate, Mr Jonathan Tackie Komme, Assembly Member for the Kinka Electoral Area of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

The bye-election followed the death of the MP, Mr Samuel Mankattah who died some few weeks ago after a short illness at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.

Mr Festus Bekoe, a Member of the Constituency Executive, warned supporters and members of the party to be wary of a media campaign, which he said had been capitalising on the "Walid" problem to divide their front.

He stated that they should stand by the official announcement by the National Executives of the party that Mr Walid Laryea had not withdrawal from contesting the bye-election and said that he would be present at the next rally to dispel the rumours that "Walid is still standing in the polls".

Madam Eunice Laryea, the Constituency Women's Organiser, said the campaign for the bye-election should be the signal for the beginning of the efforts to throw out the New Patriotic Party government from power in the 2008 general elections.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, MP and National Youth Organiser of the Party, said the NPP government under President J A Kufuor, had failed to fulfil its campaign promises and urged the people to vote massively for the NDC candidate.

Mr Mustapha Iddrissu who described himself as a "Walid supporter" led a number of members to announce that they had joined the main campaign team of the party to ensure victory, saying, "the NDC family is bigger that any other interest".

Mr Nii Lante Vanderpuidje, a former Assembly Member for the area recounted his efforts in ensuring development in the area under the NDC government and urged the people to vote massively for Mr Tackie Komme, a son of a former Ga Manste.

The Parliamentary Candidate, Mr Tackie Komme, stressed his determination to ensure the development of the area. He said his main focus when he got the nod of the electorate would be to facilitate the development of social services in the area especially in the areas of education.

Nii Tackie Komme said as an Assembly he solicited fund from the various organisations in the area for 68 people to continue their education.

The candidate said that he would liase for the people to benefit from the various micro-credit facilities to improve their business ventures.

He promised to continue the various programmes initiated by the late MP.

Present at the rally were some officials from both the national and regional executives including Mr E T Mensah, Mp for the Ningo-Prampram constituency, Madam Frances Essian, National Women's organiser and Mr Jerry Akwei Thompson a former Chief Executive Officer for the Ga District.