It is common knowledge that chieftaincy is a revered institution that unites people. Dagombas cherish chieftaincy, and so the murder of the Ya-naa has been seen as the cause of the poor performance of the NPP in Dagbon. Out of a total of twelve (12) constituencies the NDC won eleven presidential and ten (10) parliamentary seats. Several reasons accounted for the poor performance of the NPP in Dagbon.
1. Many were those who wanted justice done in the murder of the Ya-naa Yakubu Andani was ignored by the NPP.
2. The Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama clearly ignored Dagbon chiefs during his campaign tour of Dagbon. He never bothered to visit them. He again violated Dagbon custom by dancing to drums at the Tamale police park in a political rally. The Vice President can therefore be said to be a contributory factor in the abysmal performance of the NPP in the Dagbon area.
3. The NPP supporters in Dagbon could and can shoot and kill with impunity. They can use the military to beat and kill innocent citizens, they can use the police to arrest and detain opponents.
A survey conducted indicates that Dagombas voted for freedom not that they like a particular political party. Available records indicate that in 1969 general elections the Progress Party won three out of the seven constituencies. In 1979 the Popular Front Party won four out of seven constituencies despite this same chieftaincy crisis.
If Dagombas are treated with dignity and are protected from the several human rights abuses meted out to them in the name of the political party in power they would not be bothered about which political party is in power. In so long as our human rights are continuously violates we shall forever fight justice and freedom.
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