Sawla-Tuna-Kalba NPP primary called off

Parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency in the Northern region has been called off.

The decision was taken after ballot papers delivered to the constituency by the EC came without the picture of one of the aspirants.

The Northern Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr. Sule Salifu who confirmed the postponement of the elections in the constituency to Graphic Online said the elections in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency has been rescheduled for June, 27, 2015.

He said apart from the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency, voting is going on smoothly in all the other constituencies in the region.

Voting is taking place in 24 out of the 31 constituencies in the Northern Region.

The reason is that the party has decided that 7 out of the 10 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) in the region are to go unopposed and would not be contested in the primaries.

The sitting MPs who are going unopposed are Dominic Nitiwul, the Deputy Minority leader and MP for Bimbilla; Habib Moahmmed Tijani, Yendi; Mattew Nyindam, Kpandai; Dr. Sagre Bambangi, Walewale; Mustapha Yussif, Yagaba-Kubori; Sanda Namoro Azumah, Chereponi; and Solomon Namliit Boar, Bunkpurugu.

The three sitting MPs who are being contested are Wahab Suhuyini Wumbei, John Jabaah Banam and Cecil James Yanwube, and they are for the Tolon, Zabzugu and Tatale-Sanguli constituencies respectively.

The Tamale North constituency is going to be an all-female affair and the contest would be between Madam Mohammed Kulsum and Madam Safura Fuseini both educationists. The other women in the contest are Madam, Salamatu Forgor, a former District Chief Executive (DCE ) for Bole and Madam Alele Heming, UK-Ireland Women Organiser who would be contesting for the slot for the Bole constituency with another male, John Youri, but according to some political watchers in the party in the Bole constituency the contest would be a straight fight between the two women, Madam Forgor and Heming.

Another female contest for the election is Madam Janet Jambia Alhassan, also a former DCE for Damango who would be contesting for the Damongo constituency with two men, namely Saeed Muhazu and Albert Kassim all educationists.

Although voting in some of the constituencies in the region delayed, Mr. Salifu said it would not affect the outcome of the elections, adding that Police and Military Personnel have deployed to areas perceived to be hotspots in the region for the maintenance of law and order.