The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has in a statement extended its “warmest felicitations” to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the latter holds parliamentary primaries Saturday to elect candidates for the 2012 general elections. The statement signed by Mr. James Asante, Director of Communications of NDC said “We wish to remind the NPP and its parliamentary aspirants and their supporters that the peaceful outcome of this exercise will be one of the yardsticks to measure our democratic maturity. “We, therefore, urge the NPP leadership to seize this opportunity to ensure that the polls are conducted in a responsible manner to help sustain internal cohesion. "The NDC is concerned about reports of disaffection and agitation among sections of party’s followers in some constituencies for various reasons and these have the potential to mar the process. It is our cherished hope that the NPP would take measures to intensify and strengthen mechanisms to deal with potential confrontations likely to rear their ugly heads in the identified flash points. This is to prevent a repeat of the spiral violence that characterized the party’s parliamentary primaries in parts of the country in 2007. “The NDC commends the NPP on this occasion, and extends its fullest support to the largest opposition party in the country. It is our hope that the quality of candidates who would emerge after tomorrow’s primaries have the tendency to galvanize the NDC to give of a better performance in the 2012 elections. “LONG LIVE GHANA’S DEMOCRACY.” Myjoyonline.com/Ghana