- Tamale High Court mandates a new primary for NPP Walewale seat
- Dr. Mahama Tia Kabiru is barred from claiming the nomination
- Ruling comes just before nomination deadlines
The Tamale High Court, led by Justice Richard Kogyapwah, has directed a re-run of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary for the Walewale parliamentary seat.
The full judgment is expected to be delivered on September 12, 2024.
This decision comes just a week before the deadline for parliamentary and presidential candidates to submit their nominations for the December 7 elections, as per the Electoral Commission’s schedule.
In June 2024, the court imposed an injunction on Dr. Mahama Tia Kabiru, prohibiting him from claiming the NPP candidacy for Walewale in the North East Region. This followed a challenge from the incumbent MP, Hajia Lariba Zuweratu, who contested the results of the primary.
Dr. Kabiru, a 35-year-old PhD holder and Vice Presidential Special Advisor, narrowly won the primary with 345 votes against Hajia Lariba’s 338. She quickly contested the outcome, alleging electoral irregularities and malpractice, leading to the court’s injunction.
Two other candidates, Tahiru Sham-Una and Jangdoo Mahama, received 145 and 1 vote, respectively. The NPP initially tried to dismiss the case, claiming Hajia Lariba bypassed internal party dispute resolution processes.
NPP supporters in Walewale had urged Presidential Candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to intervene, warning that unresolved issues could harm the party’s prospects in the upcoming general elections. Walewale is Dr. Bawumia’s home constituency.
