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Angry members of the main opposition National Democratic Congress in the Northern Region are demanding an en masse resignation of current members of the party’s National Executive.

They have accused Kofi Portuphy, the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary, and their colleagues, of “greed, deceit, indiscipline and disrespect”, blaming them for the excruciating and humiliating defeat the party suffered in the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

According to the summarized Report of the Professor Kwesi Botchwey committee, which investigated the party’s defeat in the 2016 elections, members of the party in the Northern Region believe there must be an “Overhauling and rebranding of the NDC.”

But while they are unanimous in their position that members of the current National Executive cannot lead the rebranding of the party, they are divided over the choice of former President John Dramani Mahama as the party’s 2020 Presidential Candidate.

Those against the return of Mr Mahama cite the many corruption allegations hanging around the neck of the former president as the major reason for the position they have taken.

“Supporters of the party were divided over the choice of flagbearer for the 2020 general elections. Some were of the view that President John Dramani MAHAMA should not contest in the 2020 elections as the flagbearer due to the numerous allegations of corruption levelled against his administration… Others indicated that former President MAHAMA performed well during his term as President and therefore should be given the mandate to lead in the 2020 elections,” says the Prof Botchwey Committee Report.

Among the reasons the party’s members cited for the 2016 defeat was the “Failure of the National Executives of the party to heed to counsel; arrogance on the part of party executives and some government functionaries; hoarding of campaign items meant for distribution to party supporters and electorates”; and “waste of resources by National and Regional Campaign coordinators on celebrities who did nothing to help the party.”

According to the Report, they also blamed the defeat on “The bad leadership style of Sofo AWUDU alias “Sofo AZORKA”, NDC Regional Chairman.”

In fact, the Report indicates that the anger against Chief AZORKA became visible during interactions with the party’s activists, and nearly marred one of the meetings.

“Although deliberations at the TAMALE Sports Stadium passed off peacefully, comments made by one of the participants which sought to blame Sofo AWUDU alias AZORKA, NDC Northern Regional Chairman for the party’s problems in the Region, drew reactions from AZORKA and his followers who attempted to attack the activist, but were restrained by other participants. The said activist accused AZORKA of pocketing funds meant for campaigning in the region. He further accused AZORKA and followers of intimidating members who do not share same opinions with him,” the Report further disclosed.

Also, some of party members, during some of the meetings, were angry and walked out because they did not even see why the party leadership should be finding out from them why they lost the elections.

“The meeting held for KPANDAI, NANUMBA NORTH AND SOUTH, YENDI, MION, SABOBO, GUSHIGU AND CHEREPONI constituencies at Assembly hall, Yendi Senior High School, ended inconclusively as participants walked out on the team. Participants from GUSHIGU summed up their frustrations in the following; ‘How can the bus driver turn round and ask the passenger what caused the accident’,” the Report added.