The incumbent Northern Region Chair of the New Patriotic Party has been handed a heavy defeat in dramatic regional elections held Saturday.

Daniel Bugri Naabu lost to Mohammed Bantima Samba after he polled 116 of the total votes cast.

The chairman-elect, a business man polled 312 of the valid votes cast to end the reign of Mr Naabu who for years had led the NPP in the region.

If the results were shocking, developments leading to the elections were even more dramatic.

Daniel Bugri Naabu on his return from a campaign tour in the region had what appeared to be a serious accident Thursday but survived with minor injuries. He was later treated and discharged.

On the day of the elections, the incumbent who is no stranger to controversy had the accident vehicle towed to the Aliu Mahama Stadium, venue for the regional elections.

The rationale he claimed was to dismiss assertions he had faked the accident to win sympathy votes.

With the charred relics of the mangled vehicle exhibited at the election ground, Naabu hoped to convince the delegates that the accident was real and serious but he survived nonetheless.

Strapped in a bandage, pushed to the campaign ground on a wheelchair, almost struggling for words in his welcome address to the delegates, Bugri Naabu made a clarion call for unity in the party, and assuring delegates he was the best bet to lead the party again to victory in the north.

It appears his message did not resonate with the delegates. He lost massively to his contender, Mohammed Bantima Samba.

Mr Samba called for unity by the rank and file.