A group calling itself “silent majority group of NPP” in the Northern Region is asking delegates to elect Vice–President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama as presidential candidate for the 2008 elections. The group says this will ensure continuity in government and smooth transfer of power from NPP to NPP. The group made the call at a news conference in Tamale. In a statement signed by Suleimana Fatau and Yakubu Abass, Secretary and Organiser of the group respectively, they cited precedents in South Africa where Thabo Mbeki replaced Nelson Mandela and in Ghana where J.E.A. Mills took over from former President Rawlings as NDC presidential candidate, and asked the NPP to follow suit. They described what they termed as comments within the party that tended to portray the NPP as a southern party as unfortunate because for people up north, the NPP is a national party. The group catalogued a number of northerners who have had to contest national elections as running mates and suggested it was time to give a northerner the chance to lead the NPP for the national seat. It said after serving two terms as Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama should be the most marketed candidate to lead the NPP to victory.