Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama and Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu
The Tamale High Court presided over by Justice Richard Kogyapwah, has scheduled September 2, 2024, for judgement in the Walewale NPP parliamentary primary case between Lariba Zuweira Abudu (plaintiff) and Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama and the Electoral Commission (defendants).
Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru who is the Economic Advisor to the Vice President, closed his case after presenting 10 witnesses who were crossed-examined in court in connection with the case.
Madam Abudu earlier presented her witnesses who were equally crossed examined by defence lawyers.
The trial judge Justice Richard Kogyapwah, has since directed lawyers involved in the case to file their written addresses by close of Friday August 30, 2024.
He, therefore, adjourned the case to September 2, 2024 for judgement.
Some NPP supporters in the Walewale Constituency have lamented over the lack of a parliamentary candidate for the party four months into the December 7 general election.
The supporters believe that the lack of a parliamentary candidate will affect their chances of retaining the Walewale seat for the party.
“Our opponent, the NDC, is campaigning seriously in Walewale but we are here fighting ourselves in court instead of campaigning ahead of the 2024 elections. It will be an embarrassment if the NPP loses this seat in the hometown of the party’s flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,” the NPP supporters pointed out.
They appealed to the party at the national level to intervene and resolve the matter, to enable their parliamentary candidate commence campaign.
The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for 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.
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.
However, the party 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 until the final determination of the case.
By Eric Kombat