The Tamale High Court presided over by Justice Richard Kogyapwah, has annulled the 27th January Walewale New Patriotic Party Primary between Lariba Zuweira Abudu (plaintiff) and Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama and the Electoral Commission (defendants). and ordered for a rerun.
The incumbent member of Parliament for Walewale Constituency Hajia Lariba Abudu filed a case at the Tamale High court contesting the election results that declared Dr Kabiru Tia as the winner.
The court has also slapped a GHC30,000 fine on the defendant Dr Kabiru Tia.
According to the court, it will make available details of the ruling on 12 September, 2024.
Lawyer for the Plaintiff, Sylvester Isang who was happy with the court ruling noted that the NPP as a political party will learn some lessons that every election is taken seriously.
“That is the home constituency of the NPP flagbearer, and I want to believe that next time when they are having elections in the home constituency of a presidential candidate you just handpick someone to represent the party”
“No one can celebrate because is even sad for the NPP in the walewale constituency,” he said.
For lawyer of the defendant, Sampson Lardi Anyenine, the judgement does not correspond with the evidence that was led in court.
“We will wait, read the reasons and find if they are sound. But as far as the record shows, they cannot be sound. Our view is that the judgement does not correspond with the evidence that was led, the documentary and the telephone conversations that were attached and proven that it was the plaintiff who paid them to vote for her,” he explained.
Cost
Lawyer for the plaintiff, Sylvester Isang prayed the court to award a fine of GHC30,000 in favor of the plaintiff, but Sampson Lardi Anyenine, lawyer for the first defendant lawyer Kabiru Tia disagreed noting that his client was not found of any irregularities and so does not deserve a fine.
The presiding judge indicated that he would make a determination on that in his judgement document to be made available on September 12.
Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, polled 343 votes, beating the incumbent MP Lariba Zuweira Abudu who obtained 334 votes.
The court had previously granted a plea by the NPP to resolve the issues related to the Walewale Constituency parliamentary primary out of court.
The NPP noted that settling the case out of court will be the best way to sustain peace and unity in the party ahead of the 2024 general election and pleaded for an out of court settlement which was granted by the court
However, the parties could not resolve the matter between the parties, resulting in the continuation of the case at the Tamale High Court.
The Tamale High Court has since ordered Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu and Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama not to hold themselves as NPP parliamentary candidates for the Walewale Constituency
By Christopher Amoako
