Alhaji Ibrahim Mobila, an 80-year-old commercial farmer, has been elected as the Northern Regional Chairman of the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the just ended regional delegates elections.
Alhaji Mobila, who is the Chief of Tugu-Yapala in the Dagbon Traditional Area polled 493 votes, representing 50 per cent of the total votes cast, while his main contender, Godfred A. Wumbei, popularly known as ‘Yellow Man’, outgoing regional organiser polled 397 votes representing 41 percent of the votes cast.
This is the third time Alhaji Mobila who is said to be the political Godfather of the Minority Leader of parliament and Member of Parliament for Tamale South Constituency, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, has taken part in the regional chairmanship race.
The race for the chairmanship position appeared to be a keen contest between the former President John Dramani Mahama and Mr Haruna Iddrisu as it is said that the two heavyweights were backing Mr Wumbei and Alhaji Mobila respectively.
Some political watchers have described the Chairman-elect as a grassroots leader who has the backing of the party youth in the region, and therefore would play a crucial role to improve on the fortunes of the party in the 2020 general elections.
Drama unfolded at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium, venue for the regional delegates’ congress, as some supporters of Mr Wumbie who were jubilating over reports of possible victory were saddened and ‘heartbroken’ after official results from the electoral commission saw Alhaji Mobila victorious.
Other contenders in the chairmanship race included Mr Moses Mabengba, a former Northern Regional Minister who polled 52 votes; Alhaji Mohammed Sumani Zakaria, three votes; Alhaji Umar Farouk, eight votes, and Alhaji Musah Asumah, Outgoing Deputy Regional Organiser, 26 votes.
Other positions
Alhaji Hassan Rufai Ahmed Veilim won the first vice chairman position; Ali Adolf John, second vice chairman; Sualisu Be-Awuribe, regional Secretary; Ziblim Saaka, deputy secretary; Kassim Bakari Ali, Treasurer; Hajia Shamima Razak, deputy treasurer; Abdul Mumin Alhassan, Communications Officer; Malik Sidiwaya Basintale, deputy Communications Officer.
The rest are; Abdallah A. Baba Zee, regional organiser; Zakaria Majeed, deputy regional organiser; Alhaji Inusah Mahama, Youth Organiser; Abdulai Duriyu, deputy youth organiser; Naisah Alhassan, Women Organiser; Hajia Bintu Mahama, deputy women organiser and Hajia Jamilatu Amidu, Zongo Caucus.
Victory speech
In his victory speech, the chairman-elect pledged to unite the rank and file of the party and work hard towards recapturing all parliamentary seats in the region to enable the party to win the 2020 general election.
He assured of an open door administration and urged all the aspirants to forget the past and work hard to enable the party improve on its electoral fortunes.
A total of 1015 delegates cast their votes for 71 candidates for 15 positions at the regional delegates congress.
The elections which went on peacefully without any incident was conducted and supervised by the Northern Regional Directorate of the Electoral Commission (EC) led by the Regional Director, Mr. Benjamin Bano-Bioh . The 15 member regional executives were later sworn into office to see to the affairs of the party in the region for the next four years.
