Walewale NPP primary nullified

The NPP parliamentary primary re-run in Walewale today was declared null and void by the Electoral Commission of Ghana after   chaotic scenes broke out during ballots sorting.

Police fired warning shots to protect the integrity of the election after a ballot box was snatched. The suspect, former NPP Yagaba-Kubori Chairman Akamari Bawa, was arrested and the ballot box was retrieved. The sorting of ballot papers was disrupted, halting the contest between the incumbent MP Hajia Lariba Zuweratu and Dr Mahama Tia Kabiru. Both candidates are now at the police station for a recount, following a court order for a re-run issued by Justice Richard Kogyapwah.

The police were forced to fire warning shots in an attempt to protect the integrity of the governing New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary primary re-run in Walewale.

African Editors learned that the sorting of the ballot papers was disrupted after a ballot box was snatched by former NPP Yagaba-Kubori Chairman, Akamari Bawa.

This forced sorting to be halted in the fierce contest between the incumbent MP Hajia Lariba Zuweratu and the Special Advisor to the Vice President, Dr Mahama Tia Kabiru.

The suspect was accosted amid the firing of warning shots by the police and arrested.

The box has since been sent to the police station with the snatcher currently in custody.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnite, the 3rd National Vice Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Osman Masawudu said the election officials are waiting for both candidates at the police station where counting is expected to be done.

“Currently, as I am talking to you, we are at the Walewale police station waiting for both candidates to come with their agents. The Electoral Commission is here, the police commander is here. We are going to recount the ballot at the police station so that whoever won, the Electoral Commission would then declare the result.”

Last month, the Tamale High Court in the Northern Region presided over by Justice Richard Kogyapwah, ordered a re-run of the constituency’s primary.

The Judge, who gave the ruling on Monday, September 2, said the full judgement will be read on September 12, 2024.

This ruling comes barely a week for parliamentary and presidential aspirants to file their nominations for the December 7 election in line with the Electoral Commission’s timelines.

Background

In June 2024, the court placed an injunction on Dr Mahama Tia Kabiru restraining him from holding himself as the elected parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Walewale constituency in the North East Region.

The ruling by Justice Richard Kugyapaw, followed a challenge to the election results by the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hajia Lariba Zuweratu.