Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz has vowed to lead the charge of winning the 2024 general elections with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia when she is elected as the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party in the Savelugu constituency.
“I am the candidate who will break the 8 with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the Savelugu constituency and Insha Allah, when the delegates of our party elect me as the parliamentary candidate, together with Dr Bawumia, Savelugu will witness transformation and development” she said.
The presidential staffer at the Office of the President is seeking to become the first female parliamentary candidate and possibly the Member of Parliament for the Savelugu on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
The NPP has always elected male candidates since the inception of the 4th Republic in 1992 and the seat has always been won by the National Democratic Congress until 2016 when the NPP won it and lost it again in 2020.
Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo held the seat for 20 years after winning it for the first time in 1996 on the ticket of the opposition NDC until stepping down in 2016.
Addressing Journalists in Tamale on Wednesday, November 15, after she appeared before the northern regional vetting committee, the NPP parliamentary candidate hopeful described the process as smooth and successful.
She further expressed confidence of winning the December 2 polls with the trust that the delegates will massively vote for her to lead the NPP into next year’s elections to recapture the seat.
“I came prepared and it was like kind of conversation between myself and the chairperson of the committee and her group. Fortunately, I picked number 1 when the balloting was conducted and I pray by the grace of God that I become number one on the day of the election” she said.
Meanwhile, in her response when asked how she feels being the only female aspirant among the 17 contestants in the region, Hajia Fatahiya softly registered her disappointment and sadness that there were no women contesting in the elections.
She therefore challenged herself to change the narrative in the next opportunity when the party will organize such democratic process.
“We should retire the men because women can do better. When I become the Member of Parliament for Savelugu by the grace of God, I will encourage other women to come on board. I think the men should even encourage us to come on board because of the challenges sometimes that comes with contesting an election” she lamented.
