A former aspirant in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Yendi Constituency parliamentary primaries, Hajia Abibata Mahama Zakariah, has spoken out against what she perceives as a lack of due process in the party’s decision-making regarding recent parliamentary primaries.
In an interview on Metro TV’s Good Afternoon Ghana on Wednesday, April 10, Hajia Zakariah expressed her disappointment at the unfair treatment meted out to her by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
She highlighted that despite her expectation for the party to follow the rule of natural justice, she was not contacted before the NEC’s decision was made. She emphasized that she has not received any official communication from the party regarding the decision, except a statement from NEC being sent to her by a friend via the social media platform WhatsApp. A reason she felt compelled to respond swiftly out of a sense of patriotism.
“I was not contacted before the decision by NEC, even as we speak, nobody has contacted me to communicate to me officially what the decision was”
“I had to respond because I am a patriot all my life and I deem it fit to respond to the decision by NEC. What I was trying to communicate was that, I expected the party to have followed the rule of natural justice, which clearly they did not do. I expected the party to at least call me to give me a fair hearing as to what happened. But it never happened”
She stressed that she had expected at least a modicum of respect and equality in the treatment from her party, especially in matters involving conflicts between members.
“At least, the least, I expected from the party is some small respect given to me, because when two people are involved in a conflict, you treat them equally, that is the least I expected from the party”
When the host of Good Afternoon Ghana, Moro Awudu asked her if the two aspirants were supposed to be present in the NEC meeting, she said “I am not a NEC member and I don’t know in which capacity he was there at the meeting and looking at the constitution of the party, I can’t tell if he qualifies to be a NEC member,” she opined.
Hajia Abibata Mahama Zakariah reiterated her resolve to stand with the party no matter the decision, saying “she is a patriot and being a patriot means that no matter what decision comes from the party by a few people, you don’t let that distract you from being a patriot. I am a patriot and will continue to be patriot and I will be focused”
The failed aspirant said she remains resolute in her commitment to justice and fairness within the party.
By: Bright Yao Dzakah | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
