New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag
Some members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Pusiga Constituency of the Upper East Region have formally petitioned party executives to revoke the membership of their Parliamentary Candidate, Hanan Aludiba Abdul-Wahab and Constituency Chairman Issaka Seidu.
They accused the two of misconduct and breaching party duties by campaigning against the NPP’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, citing Article 3(7)(1) of the NPP Constitution.
The petitioners allege that Mr Abdul-Wahab and Seidu have shifted their focus solely to promoting Abdul-Wahab’s parliamentary campaign at the expense of the party’s Presidential Campaign.
Mr. Jamal Mumuni Bature, one of the petitioners, explained that on multiple occasions, the two have been seen campaigning for opposition candidate John Mahama, completely excluding Dr. Bawumia.
This controversy followed a recent video circulating on social media where the Constituency Chairman campaigned in Sarabogo for both Abdul-Wahab and John Mahama of the NDC.
In the video, the Chairman was heard telling constituents to vote for Abdul-Wahab for Parliament and John Mahama of the NDC for President, blatantly disregarding Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy.
“This year (elections), we are not talking about the party (NPP).
We are concerned about Hanan (PC). We are not talking about Bawumia. On the day of voting, vote for Hanan and vote for John Mahama,” the chairman is heard saying.
The Chairman further suggested printing shirts featuring Abdul-Wahab’s image on both sides, excluding Dr. Bawumia entirely.
Mr. Bature noted that Abdul-Wahab did not intervene or correct the Chairman during this episode.
Instead, he was seen clapping and smiling, which they interpret as complicity in violating the NPP’s Constitution.
Additionally, Mr. Bature referenced a speech by Abdul-Wahab at the commissioning of an Astroturf in Pusiga a month ago, facilitated by the current government.
Despite the project’s significance, Mr Abdul-Wahab did not mention Dr. Bawumia or campaign for him.
Instead, he praised opposition Members of Parliament, such as Haruna Iddrisu, for their contributions to their constituencies, demonstrating what the petitioners describe as his disregard for the party’s presidential candidate.
Based on the above claims, Mr. Bature and his colleagues petitioned the Executive Committee both regional and national, hoping that swift and decisive action would be taken to uphold the party’s Constitution and ensure a unified campaign for the upcoming elections.
They cited a precedent set by a letter from General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong on November 20, 2023, where members Hopeson Adorye, Nana Ohene Ntow, Boniface Abubakar Saddique, and Yaw Buaben Asamoa forfeited their memberships for similar breaches.
