By Philip Antoh
Weija-Gbawe NPP in Turmoil: Aggrieved Members Petition NEC to Annul Elections
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency is facing severe internal backlash, with a faction of disgruntled former polling station executives petitioning the National Executive Committee (NEC) to cancel recently held constituency elections.
The group alleges the polls were marred by blatant defiance of national directives, widespread voter suppression, and intimidation.
At a press conference, the former executives accused the Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, and certain constituency leaders of hijacking the process to sideline long-serving grassroots workers.
Central to their grievances is the allegation that the constituency leadership ignored an explicit instruction from the NPP National Chairman to suspend the elections pending further review. Instead, the group claims the exercise went ahead illegally.
Furthermore, the aggrieved members allege massive tampering with the electoral roll. “They have removed more than 500 delegates. We cannot work with him because we did not vote for him,” one member alleged. “Jerry does not understand the grassroots, yet he has removed people who have families, loved ones, and influence in the constituency.”
The situation has reportedly taken a dangerous turn, with allegations of thuggery. The executives accused the MP of importing armed landguards to silence opposition. “Jerry has brought landguards into Gbawe. If you speak against something you believe is wrong, they threaten to beat you. I have even received death threats,” one executive claimed.
“I have never seen a situation where landguards are brought into internal party elections. What exactly are you looking for, Jerry?”
According to the group, any delegate who questioned the MP’s decisions was systematically struck from the voters’ register. “If the MP has removed between 400 and 500 delegates, how can we work together? We don’t want Jerry again in Weija-Gbawe,” another member stated.
The faction has issued a stark warning to the national leadership, threatening to abandon the party at the polls if the crisis is not resolved. “If they don’t listen to us, we will vote against the NPP. We have informed the authorities, but they have refused to listen. We will also advise ourselves,” one member warned.
Appealing directly to the party’s flagbearer, a third member stated: “Jerry is pursuing his personal interest and not that of the party.
If Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia wants the NPP to return to power, the national leadership must come to the constituency and investigate what is happening. Otherwise, the over 500 people who have been removed will take their own decision.”
The group is now calling on the NEC to launch an immediate investigation into the allegations to prevent an irreparable split within the constituency.