Hajia Lariba, the sitting Member of Parliament for Walewale, has officially withdrawn from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary in the constituency.
This decision, made public in a letter dated September 10, 2024, addressed to the NPP's General Secretary, follows an inconclusive re-run of the primary election held the previous day.
In her letter, Hajia Lariba cited the disruption during the re-run, which resulted in the Electoral Commission (EC) being unable to declare a winner due to the destruction of some ballot papers.
She expressed her concerns about the impact of this incident on the party’s unity in the constituency.
"Following the inconclusive re-run of the parliamentary primary in the Walewale constituency yesterday (with the Electoral Commission unable to declare a result as a result of an unfortunate incident), I have decided that in the interest of the greater good of the New Patriotic Party and peace and unity in the Walewale constituency, I will no longer be a candidate for MP in the 2024 elections. I am therefore formally withdrawing from the contest," Hajia Lariba stated.
She went on to express her gratitude to the NPP for the opportunity to represent the Walewale constituency over the past four years, pledging her ongoing support for the party in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
The re-run of the primary on Monday was marred by confusion, leading to the nullification of the voting process by the Electoral Commission.
The EC's decision to void the results was based on the disruption during the ballot sorting, which led to the destruction of some ballots.
The matter has now been referred back to the NPP's leadership to determine the next steps for selecting a candidate before the deadline for filing nominations for the December 2024 parliamentary election closes later this week.
With Hajia Lariba's withdrawal, the NPP faces a critical decision on how to proceed in a constituency that remains a stronghold for the party.
The party's leadership must act swiftly to ensure a smooth resolution as the December elections draw near.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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