Warning shots fired after ballot box hijacked during NPP Walewale primary re-run

To protect the integrity of the re-run of the parliamentary primaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party in Walewale, the police were forced to fire warning shots.

JoyNews has learnt that the sorting of ballot papers was disrupted after former NPP Yagaba-Kubori chairman Akamari Bawa stole a ballot box.

According to correspondent Eliaso Tanko, this development caused chaos at the polling station.

This led to the new elections having to be stopped amid a bitter election battle between incumbent MP Hajia Lariba Zuweratu and the Vice President’s Special Adviser, Dr Mahama Tia Kabiru.

The suspect was approached by the police and arrested after firing warning shots.

The box has now been taken to the police station and the thief is currently being detained.

In an interview with Newsnite on Joy FM, the third national vice president of the NPP, Alhaji Osman Masawudu, said that the electoral officials are waiting for both candidates at the police station where the votes will be counted.

Last month, the Tamale High Court in the Northern Region, presided over by Justice Richard Kogyapwah, ordered a re-run of the primary elections for the constituency.

The judge, who delivered the decision on Monday, September 2, said the full judgment would be read on September 12, 2024.

This ruling came less than a week after parliamentary and presidential candidates submitted their nominations for the December 7 elections according to the Election Commission's schedule.

background

In June 2024, the court issued an interim injunction against Dr. Mahama Tia Kabiru, restraining him from standing as an elected parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Walewale constituency in the North East Region.

The ruling by Judge Richard Kugyapaw followed a challenge to the election results by incumbent MP Hajia Lariba Zuweratu.

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