By: Hamza Lansah Lolly
Information available to Tolon Radio suggests that the Former Member of Parliament for Yendi, Dr. Alhaji Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama is likely to go unopposed in an impending NPP parliamentary primary in Yendi, the capital of Dagbang.
According to some leading members of the NPP in the Yendi Constituency, there is a broad manifestation of acceptance among party faithful to trigger a process to allow Dr. Farouk Aliu to contest the 2028 elections unopposed.
“Right now people who matter in the growth of the NPP in Yendi, including polling station executives, campaign coordinators, Council of elders, women groups and party youth are endorsing this move”. Consultations are being done and we are receiving massive endorsement for Farouk Aliu Mahama to go “unopposed” for the 2028 elections”. A leading NPP member said
When asked about other potential NPP parliamentary hopefuls including, Businessman Baba Daney and the former MASLOT Boss, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama, the NPP member said, “We are going to work with all interest groups for the party’s good in Yendi. Looking at what happen in the last elections, we need conscientious building going forward”.
The leading NPP member who wants to remain anonymous was of the view that, Farouk Aliu Mahama going unopposed will help the party fortunes in great deal especially going into a crucial 2028 elections. “We have seen the last two parliamentary primaries in Yendi, the chaos, the acrimony and how it has divided the party. These divisions led to our humiliating defeat in the 2024 elections. We cannot allow this history to repeat itself”.
“Even the money-cracy that characterizes our elections will be avoided if the party allows Dr. Farouk to go unopposed. These moneys could be used to organize the party very well in the grassroots”. A polling station executive said in an interview
“For me all those who want to contest are equally very good and capable but Farouk Aliu Mahama stands tall among them. Look at the massive development he brought to the people of Yendi Constituency. I will be happy to see him go unopposed and I will support every move to make sure that happened. Look my brother, I am a delegate and I stand to gain if there is a parliamentary primary in Yendi but the unity of the party is more paramount than my gains”. Another polling station coordinator reiterated
Unconfirmed reports gathered by Tolon Radio suggests that, there is currently a broker between Dr. Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama and Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah to trigger an “unopposed” process for the 2028 elections.
Tolon Radio cannot also for now confirm the lead negotiator and the proposal on this “Farouk-Abibata” truce, though some prominent names have been mentioned.
Meanwhile, supporters of Hajia Abibata Shanni are divided with the issue of the former Yendi MP, Dr. Farouk Aliu Mahama to go unopposed, while some see this as a good move to recapture the Yendi seat in the 2028 elections, others see it as a deliberate attempt to dump the dreams of other potential candidates who can equally win the Yendi seat for the NPP.
Dr. Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama lost the Yendi seat to the NDC in the 2024 elections, after getting massive endorsement by the people in the 2020 elections with over 62 percent of the total votes cast. The NDC Alhassan Abdul Fatawu in the 2024 elections beat Dr. Umar Farouk with 888 votes, an outcome that “still” stunned political pundits and researchers across Ghana and beyond.
Despite the defeat, the former Yendi Legislator, Dr. Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama continues to touch base with the constituents, supports and attend social gatherings.
