The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders Chair for South Africa, Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has called on the New Patriotic Party to stop being petty over the disputed parliamentary seats controversy.

His comments come amid the NPP's allegations against the NDC following the party's loss in both the presidential and parliamentary seats in the just-ended general elections, as well as their petition to the EC over the delayed parliamentary results of twelve constituencies.

In a conversation with Joy Prime’s KMJ on the Prime Morning Show, Mr. Quashie stated that the NPP’s reactions are a result of them being affected by the results, reminiscing about how the NDC faced a similar situation during the 2016 and 2020 elections. He said the NPP are more concerned about themselves than the country as a whole.

He told the NPP to accept the results peacefully and fairly. He emphasized on the fact that there is video evidence of EC officials declaring polling station results, and there is no need for the NPP to petition the commission.

“It’s something in the blood of the NPP that you feel that what’s right for you, you can talk about it, and what is right for the other person, they cannot talk about it. For 8 years, we’ve been under this impunity. For 8 years as a country, we’ve endured very arrogant leadership. What I’m saying is that the right thing has been done; results have been declared. There are videos of returning officers declaring those results. When they rushed to court, which they have always been doing, the judge even refused a play of those videos for him to know that the results have been declared. That didn’t happen.”

“All I’m saying is that let’s stop being crybabies when it affects us, thinking that we’re special kids, and then when it doesn’t affect us, it is nothing that should go on.”

When asked whether he thinks the NPP is being petty, Mr. Quashie responded, "Very petty," suggesting that the NPP needs to conduct a proper assessment within the party because he feels they have yet to learn their lessons from the loss in the elections.

He furthered that if the NPP continues to tread the blame-game tangent and does not desist from the complaints and allegations, he does not foresee a better future for the party.

In addition, the chair of the SA Council of Elders mentioned that the NDC needs a viable opposition to help develop the country as a democratic state.

“So, if they wouldn’t get down from their high horses and make sure that we do things as a country, I don’t think that we’re going anywhere,” Mr. Quashie reiterated.

However, he believes that the will of the people stands, despite the court's ruling and the EC's adherence to all constitutional instruments governing elections.