The race for the Tamale South parliamentary seat has intensified, with four contenders vying to unseat long-serving incumbent Haruna Iddrisu. After serving for two decades, Iddrisu, a former Minority Leader, is seeking a sixth consecutive term to represent the constituency in Parliament.
The Tamale South constituency, a stronghold for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has consistently supported the party for over 20 years, with Haruna Iddrisu leading since 2004.
The constituency is bordered by Tamale Central, Tamale North, Tolon, and Central Gonja, and has shown unwavering loyalty to the NDC, according to Channel One Research Unit data.
Over the years, Iddrisu has consistently outperformed his opponents. In 2008, he secured 57.35% of the vote, with 27,366 votes, leaving the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Seidu Naa Salifu Be-Awuribe far behind with just 14,329 votes.
In 2012, he expanded his lead, capturing 74.6% of the vote (50,063 votes), with NPP’s Abdulai Yushawu Sulemana trailing with 12,079 votes. In the 2020 elections, Iddrisu triumphed with a commanding 79%, garnering 69,787 votes, while his NPP challenger secured only 17,687 votes. Historically, the NPP’s share of the vote has remained under 30%.
However, the 2024 election will see four challengers aiming to break Iddrisu’s long-standing dominance.
Among them are NPP candidate Fuseini Musah, Independent candidate Yahaya Haashimiyu, and candidates from the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
Key Contestants:
- Haruna Iddrisu (Incumbent, NDC)
- Fuseini Musah (NPP)
- Kassim Abdul Jalilu (CPP)
- Sualisu Imoro Nabila (PNC)
- Independent candidate Yahaya Haashimiyu
As election day approaches, candidates are actively engaging with constituents to share their visions.
Fuseini Abdul Latif, Deputy Organizer of the NDC in Tamale South, expressed confidence that Haruna Iddrisu will retain the seat, citing Iddrisu’s dedication to women’s empowerment and small business support.
He highlighted Iddrisu’s long-standing commitment to the constituency, emphasizing that the MP’s support for women’s initiatives, such as small loans, has had a significant positive impact.
Abu Mohammed, Secretary to the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, Fuseini Musah, countered, arguing that the constituency has lagged in development under Iddrisu’s leadership.
Mohammed stressed that voters are now more concerned about overall community development and want an MP who can support the entire constituency.
Independent candidate Yahaya Haashimiyu, a former NDC member, critiqued Iddrisu’s leadership, claiming that the MP had relied too heavily on the NDC’s name rather than his personal achievements.
Haashimiyu accused Iddrisu of failing to deliver meaningful development and claimed that the people of Tamale South love the NDC but not necessarily Iddrisu himself. He stated, “If they had put another person on the NDC ticket, that person would have won massively.”
Attempts to reach the PNC and CPP candidates for comment were unsuccessful.
Over 90,000 registered voters in Tamale South are set to cast their ballots on December 7. Some constituents have shared mixed opinions about the incumbent’s performance and the upcoming election.
Mohammed Soawii, a resident of Tamale South, expressed dissatisfaction with the current MP’s performance.
He criticized Iddrisu’s focus on individual-based support rather than large-scale constituency development, particularly in comparison with other regions. “The people are fed up,” he said, calling for a change.
Iddrisu Mahay, another constituent, echoed the sentiment of those calling for change. He noted that after 20 years of Iddrisu’s leadership, the constituency’s development has not kept pace with expectations.
“His work does not correspond to the years he has been in office,” Mahay said, expressing support for NPP’s Fuseini Musah.
However, Asmawu Iddrisu, a local businesswoman, praised Haruna Iddrisu for his continued support of her porridge business, which has enabled her to educate her children.
“The help he offers is enormous, and I urge everyone to vote for him so he can continue supporting small businesses like mine,” she said.
As the campaign continues, the contest for Tamale South is expected to remain fierce, with voters expressing a range of opinions on what direction they want the constituency to take.
