The Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mohammed Bantima Samba has articulated that, he wished the upcoming NPP primaries in constituencies we won in the 2020 Parliamentary elections in the Northern Region slated for February 2024 should be a no contest activity. He said it was properly for all our MPs go uncontested. Chairman Samba made these remarks on Tamale based Majority Radio on Sunday, 23rd October, 2024.

He elaborates as follows:

“I have never witnessed a politician helping his people in terms of employment like Habib is doing for the people of Tolon. Just like Farouk is doing for Yendi people. I don’t think there is a first time MP like them. So I wish they were not contested in the upcoming parliamentary primaries”,

My position on this is that, let the people confirm that their MPs are really what Samba claims they are. Let them vote! Stop these needles interferences.

Samba also stated that, “Not only the 2 of them. All the nine (9) MPs of the party in the Northern Region. They are doing well. For the sake of unity, they should be allowed to go. So we focus on the orphan constituencies”.

Unity is not built on coercion, deceipt, intimididations and the violations of the rights of the people. All this talk of unity is superfluous especially when people are being deliberately devalued.

Chairman Samba has the right to an opinion. I do not begrudge him for his opinion but he should know that he is our chairman. He is not an ordinary member of the Party. His remarks is not only condescending and unnecessary, it is extremely dangerous. It has exposed his bias and he cannot be trusted to be a fair “leader”. And to superintend the process leading to the election of our Party PCs in the non orphan constituencies in the Region. Whatever his reasons for openly declaring his support for the sitting MPs, l reject them entirely. I do so because it weakens the democratic process and trashes the provisions of our constitution. His open declaration enfeebles his position as the Chairman. He will no longer be trusted by persons working to contest the primaries. Dangerously, people will now begin to build strong and new confidence to “fight” back and mightly challenge the Chairman and call his bluff. 

Some of our Honorable Members of Parliament went through the democratic process and got elected.  One MP defeated a sitting MP. Another defeated a District Chief Executive. All of them won the 2020 Parliamentry elections. So what is all this fuss about? May be Self-centeredness! We must rise up and fight this “dictatorship.” Our delegates know who is most appropriate. They are entitled to pronounce who should be our candidates; not any “big” guy.

In the NPP, we don’t do “unopposed”. When we unfairly and undemocratically “tried” it caused the Party in previous elections.

It is a TERRIBLE idea and should never be encouraged. Any one seeking to be elected or re-elected to serve and lead our Party as PC must go through the constitutionally prescribed process and get hired correctly by the delegates of our great Party. 

Chairman Samba’s disposition is unfair, undemocratic, unprogressive and could introduce an element of chaos and debilitate the unity and cohesion of the Party.

Powered by Froala Editor