Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, has said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision to declare Farouk Aliu Mahama winner of the Yendi parliamentary primary was convenient but not morally right.
He says in as much as political expediency can sometimes help, it can also lead to conflicts, something he suspects this very decision could lead to.
Dr. Asante Okyere is asking the grounds upon which Aliu Mahama was declared winner of the poll that ended in a mayhem.
His comments follow a confirmation of the incumbent Member of Parliament for Yendi, Farouk Aliu Mahama, by the NPP NEC as its parliamentary candidate for the December 07, 2024 poll ahead of his main contender, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah.
Aliu Mahama’s confirmation was contained in a press release signed by the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, stating that ”the National Executive Committee has confirmed Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama as the party’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency.”
Dr. Asante Otchere said the decision will likely lead to conflict.
“It is more of political expediency on the part of the party as it were to allow Farouk to go ahead of the MASLOC boss. Sometimes political expediency could help but other times it could also lead to conflicts and I think that is what is likely to happen,” he said on TV3’s Ghana Tonight Tuesday, April 09, 2024.
The parliamentary primary held on Saturday January 27 in the Constituency, was characterised by violence and destruction of ballot papers, a situation which led to a decision to suspend the announcement of the results.
Some delegates and supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party in the Yendi Constituency subsequently urged the national executives of the party to nullify the parliamentary primary for the Constituency.
The decision by the NEC has thus, put paid to the stalemate.
Hajia Abibata, although agreeing to the decision of the party leadership, in a statement noted that the matter was not fairly adjudicated.
“Let me state for the records that l was not treated fairly, and the Party did not follow the rule of natural Justice. That said, I remain thankful to the delegates and good people of Yendi for the massive support and love they showed me on the 27th of January 2024 parliamentary elections, which was unfortunately marred by infractions and electoral malpractices.
“I urge my Campaign team members, supporters, and sympathizers to agree with the
decision of the Party and together we wish the new candidate the best of luck in the
2024 elections,” she wrote.
Reacting to her response, Dr. Asante Otchere said Farouk has been made to go through because of the influence he wield as a son of a former Vice President of the Republic.
“I can understand where the woman is coming from. Of course, she is occupying a very juicy position and for now since the party is still in government, she wouldn’t want to rock the boat. Besides, if someone that they are contesting with, whose father was one time the Vice President of this Republic, then it means that he has more clout within the party than her. The question is that, declaring Farouk winner, so to speak, he won by how many votes? That’s the question that we must ask NEC.”
GJA calls for arrest of Yendi MP Aliu Mahama for allegedly assaulting a journalist
