The legal team representing Dr. Kabiru Mahama, the first respondent in the ongoing legal dispute in the case of New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries for the Walewale constituency, has commenced the cross-examination of the petitioner’s primary witness.

This development follows a challenge to the election results lodged by the incumbent Member of Parliament, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, who also serves as the current Minister of Gender.

As reported by myjoyonline.com, Constituency Secretary Wuni Yidana was subjected to questioning by Dr. Mahama’s lawyer, Samson Lardy Anyenini.

The questioning focused on issues related to the compilation of the voter’s album and letters from absentee voters.

Samson Lardy Anyenini reportedly inquired whether Yidana had submitted Exhibit A, a list of deceased delegates, along with Exhibit C, which contained statutory declarations from the relatives of these delegates confirming their deaths.

The cross-examination also delved into the issue of Ghana cards for absentee delegates and whether Yidana had contacted them.

The report added that the witness denied making any contact, though Anyenini asserted that he had spoken to some of these delegates.

Further allegations were raised by the counsel, suggesting that Yidana had threatened certain individuals to dissuade them from testifying in support of the first respondent, a claim that Yidana firmly denied.

During the session, Yidana confirmed that Exhibit A was compiled in December 2022 and acknowledged his involvement in the 2nd respondent’s presidential primaries.

Questions also arose concerning six delegates who were absent during the January primaries. Yidana testified that he received letters from these delegates individually, including one from a delegate based in the United States.

The report further said that however, he could not recall the exact date he received the letter and promised to provide further details at the next court session scheduled for August 20, 2024.

Earlier in the proceedings, the respondent’s counsel raised objections regarding the process of admitting Exhibits A, B, and C into evidence.

Despite these objections, the judge permitted the exhibits to remain, noting that they would not affect the overall outcome of the case.

PLEASE PROVIDE BACKGROUND HERE

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) incumbent MP for Walewale, Lariba Zuwera Abudu, after suffering defeat in party’s parliamentary primary, filed a lawsuit against her contender who won the poll, Dr. Abdul-Karibu Tia Mahama.

The presidential staffer won the primary with 343 votes, while the sitting MP, who is also the Gender, Children, and Social Protection Minister, polled a margin of 334.

A dissatisfied MP on January 29, 2024, filed a motion ex-parte in a Tamale High Court challenging the results of the primary.

She is therefore restraining Dr. Tia Mahama from holding himself as the NPP’s parliamentary candidate-elect for the Walewale constituency.

“It is hereby ordered that the defendants are restrained herein, whether by themselves, their agents, assigns, workmen and allies, from holding out the 1st defendants as the New Patriotic Party’s candidate elect for the Walewale constituency for the 2024 parliamentary elections and or from submitting the name of the 1st defendants to the NPP, National office as the candidate elect in the 27th January 2024 New Patriotic Party parliamentary primaries for the Walewale constituency.”

NAY/AE

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