Loyalists of the Minority Leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu have conquered the Northern Regional Executive positions of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in elections held at the Tamale campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) last Sunday.
THE CUSTODIAN has gathered that out of the 18 elected positions, 14 were won by ardent devotees of the Tamale South lawmaker to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
The remaining four executives, our sources tell us, are perceived to be anti-Haruna Iddrisu.
There was serious factionalism in the NDC moving into the northern regional delegates’ conference between proponents of former President John Dramani Mahama, who are fighting the over dominance of the Tamale South lawmaker in the region.
Moving into the polls, the Minority leader’s group vied for all the portfolios in order to continue his dominance in the region.
Four candidates battled for the Regional Chairmanship position with the preferred candidate for the Minority leader, Ali Adolf John, who emerged as the winner.
Two of them – Alhaji Umar Farouk and Alhaji Hassan Rufai Ahmed Vellim were said to be part of the John Mahama group and the third person, Wumbei Godfred Apasinaba popularly known as Yellow man described himself as a friend of late former President Rawlings.
Mr. Wumbei emerged second with 236 votes after the Regional Chairman who had 247 votes.
He was seen as a candidate who could unite the party if he was given the mandate.
THE CUSTODIAN at the end of the polls has learned that apart from five positions, the Haruna Iddrisu team won all the other positions.
The five positions include Alhassan Abdul Mumin Fuseini, one of the two Vice Chairmen; Youth Organizer, Mumuni Believer Likpalimor; Regional Treasurer, Hajia Shamima Yakubu; Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Hajia Jamilatu Amadu and one of the two deputy Youth Organizers, Ziblim Abdul-Gafaru.
On the other hand, from the Regional Chairmanship position, Secretary, Organizer, Women’s Organizer, and the Communications were all won by known ardent supporters of Mr. Haruna Iddrisu.
In addition, Alhaji Abdul-Hamid Alhassan Gbewah, the other Vice Chairman, the two Deputy Women Organizers, Madam Duriyu Abdulai, the other deputy Youth Organizer, the Deputy Secretary, Deputy Treasurer, Deputy Organizer and Deputy Communications Officer are politically inclined to the Tamale South legislator.
The outcome of the election is a testament that the Minority leader has an authority in the northern region and will continue to dominate in the NDC local politics.
However, there is a theory and growing perception that Mr. Iddrisu is working against the candidature of the 2020 Presidential candidate of the party.
