In a surprising turn of events, Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the current Member of Parliament (MP) for the Walewale constituency in the North East Region, has announced her withdrawal from the 2024 parliamentary elections.
This decision comes after a period of great disturbance in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primaries, which were marred by violence and disruptions.
In a letter dated September 10, 2024, addressed to the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the Gender minister-designate cited the need for peace and unity in the Walewale constituency as the primary reason for her withdrawal. She expressed her gratitude to the party for the opportunity to represent her constituency over the last four years and assured continues support for the party in the upcoming elections.
Lariba’s withdrawal comes after the NPP’s parliamentary primaries in Walewale were initially held, but a High Court ruling annulled the results, citing irregularities and ordering a re-run. The re-run, held on September 9, 2024, was disrupted by violence and chaos, resulting in six arrests and an inconclusive outcome. The Electoral Commission, which supervised the contest, declared the election null and void due to damage caused to ballot papers, making it impossible to determine the actual winner.
Prominent among those arrested was Bawa Akamara, the former Yagaba-Kubori NPP constituency chairman, who allegedly disrupted the vote-counting process. Others arrested included Bukari Musah, agent of Dr. Kabiru, one of the two contestants in the primaries, as well as Sumani Fatawu, Yakubu Amin, and two others identified as Akam and Mohammed.
The disruptions were severe enough to force the Police to intervene, transporting the ballot boxes to the Police Station, where the counting process eventually resumed after a long delay. However, Hajia Lariba’s challenger, Dr. Kabiru, refused to participate further in the counting process once the ballot boxes were moved to the Police station.
The MP’s withdrawal from the race is seen as a strategic move to avoid further divisions and conflicts within the party. Her decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising her for putting the party’s interests above her own ambitions, while others have expressed disappointment and frustration.
