A political appreciation tour in the Tamale Central Constituency descended into chaos on Sunday when two rival factions of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) engaged in a violent confrontation at the Ward-F Electoral Area.
The incident occurred during a “Thank You Tour” led by the newly elected Member of Parliament, Professor Seidu Alidu, forcing the abrupt end of the engagement and the suspension of subsequent activities.
The clash erupted when the Constituency Communication Director, Abdul Razak Golden, reportedly launched verbal attacks against Constituency Chairman Farouk Kanawu, popularly known as FK, and other executives perceived to be aligned with him. Golden accused the chairman of being selective, divisive, and working against party cohesion. His remarks, openly supported by the Constituency Organizer, sparked fury among supporters loyal to FK.
Tensions escalated quickly as supporters of Chairman Farouk pounced on both the Communication Director and the Organizer, physically assaulting them in full view of the MP and party members. Attempts by Professor Alidu to intervene only heightened the confusion, prompting his driver and security team to rush him out of the venue to safety as the situation spiraled out of control.
The violent scenes brought the MP’s “Thank You Tour” to an abrupt halt, with party officials announcing the postponement of all remaining engagements until further notice. The disruption has sparked concern among constituents and observers who fear it reflects deep-seated internal cracks within the party’s local leadership.
A party executive who spoke to the Tamale News Agency on condition of anonymity revealed that the rivalry dates back to the era of the late former MP, Murtala Mohammed. According to the source, Chairman Farouk distanced himself from the late Murtala on grounds that both the Communication Director and the Organizer were Murtala’s preferred allies.
With FK’s faction believed to be gaining renewed influence and favour under the new MP, the struggle for dominance within the constituency has intensified, culminating in Sunday’s violent outburst.
The source added that Chairman Farouk has promised to frustrate the two opposing executives, a stance many fear could further undermine party unity and preparations ahead of future political activities. As of the time of filing this report, neither the MP nor the Tamale Central NDC leadership had issued an official statement on the incident.
The clash has triggered calls for immediate mediation and caution within the party ranks as supporters urge leadership to restore calm and protect the party’s image in the Northern Region.
