Upper West NPP Chairmanship Stays with Abdul Rahman Amid Nandom Protes

Upper West NPP Chairmanship Stays with Abdul Rahman Amid Nandom Protest

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper West Region has retained Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz as Regional Chairman after he defeated former Regional Organiser Alaska B. Kanton in the party's regional executive elections. Mr Abdul Rahman, popularly known as "Chairman White", secured 173 votes against Mr Kanton's 86, as 259 delegates voted to elect the 11-member regional executive.

Regional Executive Elections Marred by Nandom Protest

The election was, however, marred by a protest from some Nandom Constituency executives, who challenged the eligibility of some delegates allowed to vote. The group, which stormed the voting hall midway through the exercise, argued that some names on the voters' album did not qualify as legitimate delegates and accused the party's regional structure of sidelining the constituency.

Speaking at a subsequent press conference, Nandom Constituency Secretary Edmund Bangnia Aayel said the group was not opposed to the election but wanted the process to be transparent. "We are not against the election. But we want fairness and transparency. Some people who are not legitimate delegates were allowed to vote. That undermines the credibility of the process. We are calling on national leadership to investigate," he said.

Delegates Opt to Retain Abdul Rahman as Regional Chairman

Despite the protest, the Electoral Commission proceeded with the election and declared the results. Mr Abdul Rahman's victory gives him a fresh mandate after he took over the leadership of the region following the death of his predecessor, S.B. Kangberee, in June 2024. He had previously served as Vice Chairman from 2018, deputising for Mr Kangberee.

New Leadership Faces Task of Uniting Party

The newly elected executives, including Majeed Liman as First Vice Chairman, Yussif Alhassan as Second Vice Chairman, and Philip Braimah as a regional executive, were sworn into office by NPP Director of Information Technology Eric Nana Amankwa. The Nandom protest, however, leaves questions about the eligibility of some delegates unresolved, with the constituency executives calling for an investigation by the party's national leadership.

Party to Focus on Rebuilding Fortunes Ahead of 2028 Election

With the regional elections concluded, the new leadership is expected to begin efforts to unite the party and rebuild its fortunes ahead of the 2028 general election. Chairman White urged supporters to reserve their celebration for 2028 when they defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC). "The victory is not for me but for the whole New Patriotic Party," he told supporters after his victory.

Source: JOY