NPP primaries: Victors and losers in Northern, North East regions

Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, a son of former Vice President, Aliu Mahama’s ambition to enter Parliament received a major boost after he emerged victorious in Saturday’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Primaries at the Yendi Constituency.

He polled 244 votes in a fierce competition to beat Hajia Abibata Shani Mahama Zakariah, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre, (MASLOC) who polled 210 votes, and Alhaji Baba Daney, an Accountant at the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, polled 139 votes.

Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama will, therefore, stand on the ticket of the NPP in the Yendi Constituency for the parliamentary elections in December, replacing the incumbent, Alhaji Habib Tijani, a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, who did not seek re-election.

The Walewale Constituency, the home constituency of Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, produced a shocker when Dr Sagre Bambangi, the incumbent and Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in-charge of Annual Crops, came a distant third polling 96 votes losing to Hajia Lariba Abudu, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority, who polled 245 votes.

As expected, Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development had a smooth ride at Nalerigu-Gambaga Constituency polling 481 votes to secure her ticket for the December polls, leaving behind two other contenders, who garnered 96 and 81 votes.

Mr Solomon Namlit Boar, North East Regional Minister and incumbent MP for Bunkpurugu looks set to fight for another term in Parliament after polling 261 votes to defeat three others during the primaries with his main challenger, Mr Tingoti Kombong polling 127 votes.

Alhaji Mohamed Hardi-Tufeiru, incumbent MP for Nanton garnered 205 votes to shock Alhaji Kamal-deen Abdulai, a Deputy National Communication Officer of NPP, who polled 129 votes.

Alhaji Wahab Suhuyini Wumbei, incumbent MP for Tolon lost his bid when he polled 164 votes leaving Mr Habib Iddrisu, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Free Zones Authority jubilating as next nominee for the area after he polled 338 votes.

Mr Charles Bintin’s (incumbent) hopes for a firm grip on the Saboba Constituency were dashed when he polled 136 votes to lose to Mr Abraham Jawol, who polled 212 votes.

There was no contest in Bimbilla, Kpandai and Savelugu Constituencies as Mr Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Defence, Mr Matthew Nyindam, First Deputy Majority Chief Whip in Parliament and Muhamed Abdul-Samed Gunu stood unopposed in that order, were acclaimed at their various constituencies.

There was also no contest in the Savannah Region because Mr Salifu Adam Braimah, the Regional Minister and MP for Salaga South, is the only NPP MP in the Region, and stood unopposed, and was only acclaimed at a ceremony at Kulaw in the Constituency.