The Savelugu Constituency will be keenly contested between the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and an independent candidate, who broke away from the NDC.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Abdulai Alhassan Red, won the primaries from the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hajia Mary Boforo, who placed third position behind the independent candidate, Alhassan Iddrisu Bunglung.
At the launch of the bid to win the parliamentary seat in the Constituency, Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Saeed Sinare, called on party faithfuls and sympathizers to support the aspiring candidate to win the seat to assist President John Mahama administer the country very well.
He said a vote for Red is the vote for the party and urged them not to vote “skirt and blouse” to reduce the strength of the party in Parliament.
The Ambassador said ethnic allegiance in politics does not mean tribal division, saying that former President John Kufuor is highly respected within the Ashanti Region.
So also is Former President John Rawlings, he said.
He called on northerners to rally behind President John Mahama to win the 2016 election.
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Murtala Mohammed said Savelugu Municipality in 2007 was second to Sudan in Guinea worm disease and the NDC administration eradicated it totally.
He said even though there are challenges in the country, it does not call for a change of government, saying that NPP is not the best alternative to govern the country.
Those who took turns to address the launch included the Northern Regional Minister, Alhassan Abubakar, who is also contesting the Walewale Constituency seat and Deputy Regional Minister, Alhaji A. B. A. Fuseini, who is also the MP for Sagnarigu constituency.
The aspiring MP, Mr. Red, was introduced to the people with the advice that the people should vote for him massively.
Hajia Mary Boforo was conspicuously missing at the launch and it is rumoured that she is giving her support to the independent candidate even though the office of the independent candidate has denied that.
3news.com caught up with the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Red, at his residence after the rally to find out his strategy to unite the party.
He said those who broke away from the party are not committed members, saying national executives of the party including the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, appealed to the independent candidate to rescind his decision but he refused.
Mr. Red was sure of winning the seat for the NDC to become a parliamentarian.
By Zakaria Abdul-Kadiri|TV3|3news.com|Ghana