Walewale constituency: Bawumia’s sister and advisor clash in court over NPP parliamentary candidacy

The results of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary elections in the Walewale constituency have been challenged as the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Lariba Zuwera Abudu securing an interim injunction against the declared winner.

According to court documents sighted by this portal, Lariba Zuwera Abudu - a sister of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia - filed a motion at the Tamale High Court, claiming irregularities in the process that saw her opponent Dr. Abdul-Karibu Tia Mahama—also an advisor to the Vice President, declared victorious.

The Electoral Commission had announced after the January 27, primary that Dr. Tia Mahama had won with 343 votes compared to Lariba Zuwera Abudu's 334 votes.

However, Lariba Zuwera Abudu's legal team, led by lawyer Sylvester Isang, successfully argued for an interim injunction against the results.

In his ruling, Justice Richard M. Kogyapwah of the Tamale High Court ordered that, "the defendants are restrained by themselves, their agents, assigns, workmen and all privies from holding out the 1st defendant [Dr. Tia Mahama] as the New Patriotic Party's candidate elect for the Walewale Constituency."

The electoral commission is also restrained from “submitting the name of the 1st defendant to the New Patriotic Party’s National Office as the candidate elect in the 27th January

Parliamentary primaries for the Walewale Constituency.”

The injunction, issued on January 29, will hold for 10 days, during which time the sitting MP can file an official notice of appeal against the results.