The opposition National Democratic Congress began vetting individuals vying to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries today.
Fifty-nine candidates are expected to appear before the Northern Regional vetting committee made up of five members including George Ako Gunn, the Deputy NDC National Communications Officer.
Three incumbent MPs are going unopposed because nobody at the close of nomination showed interest to contest them.
They are Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, MP for Tamale Central; Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini, MP for Tamale North; and MP for Kpandai, Daniel Nsala Wakpal.
Hundreds of NDC supporters accompanied the former Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, to the party’s regional headquarters in Tamale Monday morning to appear before the vetting committee.
Mr. Iddrisu is running for his sixth term of office as the Member of Parliament for the Tamale South constituency.
He first went into Parliament in the 2004 general elections unseating the late Mustapha Ali Idris of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Professor Bawa Abdul Fatawu, an educationist who was supposed to face Mr. Haruna Iddrisu in the contest has been disqualified by the vetting committee for failing to meet the requirements of the party.
The committee is expected to vet aspirants from the Tamale South, Mion, Zabzugu, Wulensi, Gushegu and the sitting MP for Kpandai who is going unopposed on day one, totaling 21.
Candidates from the Savelugu, Kumbungu, Sagnarigu, Bimbila, Saboba and Tamale Central constituencies faced the vetting committee yesterday.
The exercise will end on Wednesday with the vetting of aspirants from Nanton, Karaga, Yendi, Tatali/Sanguli, Tolon, and Tamale North constituencies.
Meanwhile, the NDC’s presidential and parliamentary primaries is slated on May 13 to elect a flagbearer and candidates for the 275 constituencies for the 2024 general election.
