Court orders re-run of NPP Walewale parliamentary primary

A High Court in Tamale, Northern Region, has ordered a re-run of the New Patriotic Party primary in Walewale. 

The decision was handed down on Monday, September 2, with the full judgment scheduled to be delivered on September 12, 2024.

This ruling comes just days before the deadline for parliamentary and presidential candidates to submit their nominations for the December 7 election, per the Electoral Commission's schedule

In June 2024, the Tamale High Court issued an injunction against Dr. Mahama Tia Kabiru, preventing him from presenting himself as the elected parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Walewale constituency in the North East Region. 

This ruling came after the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hajia Lariba Zuweratu, challenged the election results.

Earlier this year, in January, Dr. Kabiru, a 35-year-old PhD holder and Vice Presidential special advisor, narrowly won the primary against Hajia Lariba in a closely contested race securing 345 votes, while Hajia Lariba received 338 votes.

Unhappy with the results, Hajia Lariba quickly contested the outcome and filed an ex-parte motion at the Tamale High Court, citing electoral irregularities and misconduct by the party and the Electoral Commission, which supervised the election. 

The court granted her request for an injunction to prevent Dr. Kabiru from assuming the role of the winner.