The New Patriotic Party (NPP) primaries in Walewale were thrown into chaos, leading to an inconclusive outcome after police seized the ballot boxes.
The voting process, which experienced delays in the morning, eventually commenced and concluded around 5 p.m. However, during the sorting phase, an unidentified individual attempted to smash some of the ballot boxes, disrupting the process. The police intervened quickly to prevent the damage and removed the ballot boxes.
This incident marks the second time that elections in Walewale have been disrupted, highlighting ongoing tensions in the constituency.
Dr. Kabiru and his team had already raised concern regarding the venue, citing a lack of official communication on the election arrangements. Many anticipated the sorting and counting of votes to occur publicly, but it was instead conducted behind closed doors inside a church room. According to the chairman of the election committee, the individual responsible for disrupting the process was arrested.
Dr. Kabiru, one of the aspirants, expressed disappointment with how the election was managed, questioning the democratic integrity of the process within the NPP.
Some Facts on the Walewale Parliamentary Primary Election
Last week, the High Court in Tamale nullified the NPP’s Walewale parliamentary primary. Dr. Mahama Tia Kabiru had been declared the winner of the disputed primary, which eventually ended up in court. An injunction issued on June 24 barred Dr. Kabiru from presenting himself as the elected parliamentary candidate for the NPP in the constituency. The court ruling on Monday, September 2, 2024, paved the way for fresh nominations to be held.
Earlier in January 2024, Dr. Kabiru, a 35-year-old PhD holder and who also serves as special advisor to the Vice President, narrowly defeated the sitting MP, Hajia Lariba Zuweratu, in a closely contested primary. Dr. Kabiru won with 345 votes, compared to Hajia Lariba’s 338. However, Hajia Lariba disputed the results and filed a motion at the Tamale High Court, accusing the party, Dr. Kabiru, and the Electoral Commission of electoral irregularities and misconduct.
Before this court ruling, NPP supporters in the Walewale constituency had called for the intervention of the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to help resolve the ongoing disputes.
Thoughtful Question
Will the aspirants accept the outcome of the election results after counting if the EC decides to continue after resolving the differences amidst this chaos?
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