The Member of Parliament for Walewale Constituency, Hajia Lariba Zuweiratu Abudu has withdrawn from the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) parliamentary contest in the constituency.
This was after a rerun of the parliamentary primary turned chaotic and led to the nullification of the results again.
Hajia Lariba, who was seeking to represent the NPP again in the upcoming elections, was defeated by 35-year-old Dr. Mahama Tia Kabiru in a primary held on January 27, 2024.
She, however, rejected the outcome and subsequently filed a suit at the court, alleging electoral irregularities and malpractices by the party, Dr. Kabiru and the Electoral Commission.
The Tamale High Court, on September 2, 2024, upheld her position, nullifying the victory of Dr. Kabiru and subsequently, ordered for a rerun of the election.
A rerun of the primary of the primary yesterday was disrupted after a member of Hajia Lariba’s camp and former Yagaba/Kubori Constituency executive snatched a ballot box and took to his heels.
The security personnel present gave him a hot chase and subsequently, arrested him.
However, he succeeded in destroying some of the ballot papers, resulting in the cancellation of yet again the election results.
The party this afternoon announced that it was holding a National Executive Council meeting to decide its next step.
But just hours after that announcement, Hajia Lariba also released a statement, indicating her decision to pull out of the contest.
Her decision, she explains, is to ensure peace and unity in the party in the constituency.
She pledged to continue her support for the NPP in the 2024 elections.
“Following the inconclusive rerun of the parliamentary primary in the Walewale Constituency yesterday (with the Electoral Commission unable to declare results as a result of an unfortunate incident), I have decided that, in the interest of the greater good of the New Patriotic Party, peace and unity in the Walewale Constituency, I will no longer be a candidate for MP in the 2024 elections,” a statement signed by her said.
“I am, therefore, formally withdrawing from the contest” .
The statement added, “I would like to thank the party for the honour done me in representing my constituency over the last four years and can assure the party of my continued support in the 2024 election campaign”.
