Confusion has arisen within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) camp in the Walewale constituency of the North East region regarding the reaffirmation of Dr. Kabiru Tia Mahama as the party's 2024 Parliamentary candidate by the constituency executives, patrons, council of elders, and electoral area coordinators.

In a statement signed by Walewale Constituency Chairman Mohammed Janda Muniru, it was declared that after extensive discussions with Constituency Executives, Patrons, the Council of Elders, and Area Coordinators, the entire body reaffirmed the declaration of Dr. Mahama Tiah Abdul Kabiru as the parliamentary candidate for the Walewale Constituency by the Electoral Commission on January 27, 2024.

Furthermore, the statement revealed that the house tasked the Patrons and Council of Elders with engaging the Member of Parliament, Hajia Lariba Abudu Zuwera, in meaningful discussions to prioritise the party's interests and resolve electoral disputes for the sake of peace, unity, and harmony.

In contrast, another statement issued by the constituency secretary, Wuni Yidana, advised the public to disregard the assertion that the constituency executives reaffirmed Dr. Kabiru Tia Mahama as the party's 2024 parliamentary candidate.

Amidst these conflicting statements, the Walewale constituency chairman has called upon all parties, supporters, and sympathizers to set aside their differences and collaborate for unity in securing victory in the upcoming December elections.

“I wish to state in no uncertain terms that no decision was ever reached at the said meeting, in which the stakeholders purportedly reaffirmed the declaration of Dr. Kabiru Mahama as our Party’s Candidate of our constituency.”.

He disclosed that the conduct of the constituency Chairman is contemptuous, as the Constituency Parliamentary Primary is a subject matter of litigation still pending before the High Court in Tamale.

“I wish to state that the conduct of the constituency Chairman is contemptuous as our Constituency Parliamentary Primary is a subject matter of litigation still pending before the High Court Tamale and an act which will seriously militate against the amicable settlement of the matter as the Court has given our great party up to May 23, 2024, to announce back to the Court the outcome of any amicable settlement of the matter.”.

He entreated all members of NPP in the Walewale Constituency, to remain calm and treat the said publication or letter authored by the Constituency Chairman with the contempt that it deserves.

“I urge the leadership of our Party to do everything possible to take the opportunity given the party by the Court to resolve the matter seriously and enrol all the stakeholders on board in order to come out with an outcome that will resolve the lingering issue and bring all hands on board to ensuring that we win the upcoming General Elections emphatically for the Presidential Candidate and whoever is eventually be declared as our Parliamentary Candidate”.

The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Walewale constituency and former Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, proceeded to the Tamale High court to contest the results declared at the NPP parliamentary primary in the Walewale constituency.

Subsequently, Justice Richard Kogyapwah of the Tamale High Court granted a plea by the New Patriotic Party (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 elections and the court gave up to this month to come back.