Baatima Samba dethrones Bugri Naabu as NPP chairman
The incumbent Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, now known as Abdul-Fataw Bugri Naabu, was last Saturday handed a shocking defeat in the Northern Regional Delegates conference that was characterised by drama and anxiety.
Mr Naabu, despite all efforts to retain his position, lost the race to his contender, a business mogul, Mr Mohammed Baatima Samba, with a wide margin.
Shockingly, the incumbent chairman could only manage 116 votes as against 312 votes polled by Mr Samba.
The defeat of the outspoken chairman came as a shock to some party supporters and sympathisers, considering the developments that led to the elections.
A total of 568 delegates from 29 constituencies out of the 31 took part in the elections.
Accident vehicle towed
Last Saturday morning, Mr Naabu towed his accident vehicle to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium, the venue for the regional delegates congress.
The motive behind that was not clear, but sources close to him indicated that the move was to help rebut widespread rumour that his accident was feigned to amass sympathy votes because of the fierce contest with Mr Samba.
Few days to the elections, Mr Bugri was reportedly involved in a near-fatal accident on the Damongo-Bole highway when he was returning to Tamale after campaign trails at Bole and Sawla constituencies.
Wrapped in bandage, looking dejected and pushed majestically to the campaign ground in a wheelchair to deliver his welcome address to the delegates, the incumbent chairman called for unity among the party members to enable the party to achieve the set targets for the 2020 election, but ironically this appeared to be his last address as a regional chairman as he was defeated by Mr Samba.
Other winners
After almost eight hours of voting amid growing tensions and anxiety, Mr Sule Salifu, who was seeking re-election for the secretary position, was also dethroned by Sule Sambian, a legal practitioner.
Alhaji Rashid COP relinquished his position as the Regional Youth Organiser and went ahead to contest for the Regional Organiser position which he won with a wide margin.
The first vice chairman position went to Iddrisu Sunday while the Northern Regional Coordinator of the School Feeding Programme (GSFP), Mrs Felicia Tettey, overwhelmingly grabbed the second vice chairmanship position.
For the Women Organiser position, Hajia Rahana Aziz beat five other contenders and won awesomely, with Alhaji Sibidow Alhassan also snatching the Regional Treasurer title from his contenders.
Alhaji Sham-Una Ilyasu Mohammed and Mr Haruna Iddrisu managed to retain their positions as Regional Nasara Coordinator and Assistant Regional Secretary respectively, while Mr Mohammed Alhassan Ghana defeated five other challengers for the Regional Youth Organiser position.
New executive
The newly elected regional executive members were sworn into office by the National Director of Elections of the NPP, Mr Evans Nimako.
Below are the results
Chairman
Mohammed A. Bantima Samba - 312
Mr. Abdul-Fatawu Bugri Naabu - 116
Alhaji Abdallah Hindu - 25
Alhaji Mugis Sibawey - 0
Amadu Inusah Dagomba Boy - 99
1st Vice Chairman
Iddrisu Sunday -259
Dr. Salifu Nantogma Alhassan - 92
Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana - 13
Abdul Rahman Sualisu Mahama - 186
2nd Vice Chair man
Hajia Amama Sayibu - 20
Felicia Tettey -336
Yahaya Iddi Mutawakilu - 34
Baba Kadiago - 128
Hamdia shahad Alhassan - 24
Ibrahim Gariba - 8
Secretary
Sule Salifu - 186
Abukari Iddrisu - 93
Natoma Awusi Mahama - 39
Sule Sambian - 228
Regional Organiser
Rashid Salifu aka C.O.P - 492
Peter Wuni Baaga - 46
Alidu Musah - 7
Bashiru Mohammed - 7
Assistant Secretary
Haruna Iddris - 288
Alhaji Baba Alhassan - 16
Abdallah Salifu DC - 154
Alhassan Abdul Jalil - 57
Kwawaja Ngamiba - 40
Youth Organiser
Frederick Tahiru - 95
Shamuna Ghazi - 138
Adam Abdul Bashiru - 13
Tamimu Fayal - 5
Mohammed A. Ghana - 270
Atik Shiraj - 31
Sulemana Alidu - 24
Adam Abdul Fatawu - 131
Shamuna Ilyasu - 275
Mohammed Shukurulah Bamba - 119
Abdul Rahaman Meriga - 2
Regional Treasurer
Peter Kwabena Dwomo Tuffour -55
Benjamin Mensah -146
Hussein Yussif - 100
Alhaji Sibidow Alhassan Yakubu - 219
Collins Kwesi Antwi-29
Women's Organiser
Hajia Zulfawu Amadu-37
Suraiya Manan - 73
Hajia Rahana Aziz - 208
Hajia Safia Mohammed - 126
Hajia Ayishetu Mahama - 44
Issahaka Sahadatu - 62