NDC elects former MP to contest Kumbugu by-election
A former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Alhaji Imoro Yakubu Kakpagu, has been elected to contest the by-election in the Kumbungu Constituency in the Northern Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
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He polled 170 votes to beat his closest contender, Dr Jacob Yakubu Mahama, who secured 84 votes at the party's primary held in Kumbungu.
The remaining candidates were Abukari Osman Mohammed, who polled 14 votes, Hamza Adam,12 and Abdullah Baba Ibrahim, 9.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has fixed April 30 for the by-election, which would be preceded by the filing of nominations tomorrow, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17, 2013.
The by-election came about when Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu, resigned after he was nominated for the position of Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) to serve the unexpired term of Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas.
A statement issued by the EC after it had been signed by its Chairman, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, said the Commission would take nominations for the by-election at the district office of the Commission at Kumbungu District Assembly.
The NDC primary was largely peaceful and in the end all five candidates embraced each other and reassured the leadership and the grassroots of the party of their readiness to support the winner to retain the seat for the NDC.
Alhaji Kakpagu served as the MP for Kumbungu for two terms from January 2005 to January 2013. He lost his bid for a third term when he was defeated by Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni in a hotly and acrimonious primary in the run-up to the 2012 elections.
Apparently elated about his chance for another term in Parliament, Alhaji Kakpagu said he was well-prepared to return to Parliament to represent the people of his area and advocate the people's share of the national cake.
He said his election should mark the end of factionalism in the party in the constituency, and pledged to work hand-in-hand with the other candidates to retain the seat for the NDC.
The Northern Regional Chairman for the NDC, Alhaji Sofo Azorka, who was among other top party executives and functionaries who witnessed the primary, commended the delegates and their supporters for comporting themselves throughout the campaign and the primary.
He said he had no doubt that the NDC would win the primary because Kumbungu remained a stronghold of the party.
Meanwhile sources close to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have given indications that it would boycott the Kumbungu by-election.
They said the party was likely to boycott the by-election due to their pending Supreme Court case.
The NPP recently boycotted the Akatsi and Buem by- elections which were held on February 5 and 26 respectively.
Story: Nurudeen Salifu