The Upper East Regional Elections Vetting Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has disqualified Bashiru Ali Akparibo from the Regional Youth Organiser race after finding that he picked and submitted his nomination forms after the 2:00 pm deadline set by the party.
The committee, in its supplementary vetting report dated August 3, 2026, concluded that Mr. Akparibo received his nomination forms after the official closing time on July 27, 2026, making him ineligible to contest the position.
The decision leaves incumbent Regional Youth Organiser Musah Salau-deen as the only qualified candidate and the party’s Youth Organiser-elect for the 2026–2030 term.
According to the report, Mr. Akparibo appeared before the committee virtually on Saturday, August 1, 2026, and explained that he arrived at the NPP Regional Secretariat in Bolgatanga at 1:49 pm on the final day for nominations.
He told the committee that he waited for Regional Deputy Organiser Clifford Ayaric to provide the nomination forms, which he completed with the support of his team before submitting them.
However, Mr. Ayaric, who was invited by the committee to clarify the circumstances surrounding the nomination process, disputed the claim, stating that he returned to the secretariat at about 2:04 pm and informed Mr. Akparibo that the deadline had passed.
The committee said its findings established that the forms were picked after 2:00 pm, with Mr. Ayaric maintaining that the nomination forms were taken from an envelope in his possession after he had declined to release them due to the expired deadline.
“The committee has found as a fact that Bashiru Ali Akparibo picked the nomination form after 2:00 pm on July 27, 2026,” the report stated.
It added that the mere acceptance of nomination forms by the party does not automatically qualify an aspirant to contest, as compliance with filing requirements is determined during the vetting process.
The committee consequently ruled that Mr. Akparibo failed to meet the condition regarding the timing of filing his nomination and was therefore not qualified to contest.
Meanwhile, Musah Salau-deen was cleared after the committee confirmed that he withdrew from the Regional Secretary race before filing to contest the Youth Organiser position.
The committee also dismissed a petition by Mr. Akparibo challenging Mr. Salau-deen’s eligibility, stating that the withdrawal of an aspirant from one position to contest another was consistent with democratic principles.
The report, signed by Dr. Ernest Owusu-Kumih, Chairman of the Upper East Regional Elections Vetting Committee, has been forwarded to the Regional Executive Committee for further action.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com |102. 7 MHz | Bolgatanga
