Police restore calm at Walewale NPP Parliamentary primary; one person arrested

The Ghana Police Service has restored order in Walewale following a disruption during the vote-counting process in the ongoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary rerun election.

One person, Kamara Bawah, has been arrested for damaging ballot papers.

The Walewale parliamentary primary rerun election was marred by sporadic disturbances, resulting in an inconclusive end.

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.

Military personnel were reportedly involved in assaulting some individuals at the voting center, leading to police intervention and the seizure of ballot boxes.

The suspect, Kamara Bawah, is currently in custody and assisting with the police investigation.

To ensure law and order, security has been strengthened in Walewale and its surrounding areas.

Background

The High Court in Tamale has nullified the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Walewale parliamentary primary, which was won by Dr. Mahama Tia Kabiru.

The court’s ruling on September 2, 2024, followed a June 24 injunction that barred Dr. Kabiru from presenting himself as the elected parliamentary candidate.

Dr. Kabiru, a 35-year-old PhD holder and special advisor to the Vice President, had won the primary in January with 345 votes, defeating incumbent MP Hajia Lariba Zuweratu, who received 338 votes. However, Hajia Lariba disputed the results, citing electoral irregularities and misconduct, and filed an ex parte motion at the Tamale High Court.

The court’s decision paves the way for fresh nominations. Previously, the NPP had sought to dismiss the case, arguing that Hajia Lariba had breached the party’s constitution by not using internal conflict resolution mechanisms before going to court.

NPP supporters in the Walewale constituency had called for the intervention of the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to resolve the dispute, warning that it could harm the party’s prospects in the upcoming general elections if left unresolved.

olice restore calm at Walewale NPP Parliamentary primary; one person arrested

Story By: Jeremiah Nutsugah