Businessman Alhaji Alhassan Gbangu, popularly known as “The Lion,” has dismissed speculation that his wife, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim, intends to contest the NDC parliamentary primary in the Wa Central constituency.

Speaking on Home Radio on Monday, Alhaji Gbangu used his native Waale dialect to make it clear that his wife has no interest in the parliamentary seat.

“There are people out there who are saying that what I am doing is because of my wife, Shamima Muslim. I want to tell the people of Wa that Shamima, my wife, is not coming for the primary. She will not come today or tomorrow,” he said.

He stressed that Shamima Muslim was not interested in the Wa Central parliamentary seat and would not contest the primary even if the incumbent MP, Dr Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, decides not to seek re-election.

“Shamima is not interested in the Wa Parliamentary seat, and I will not also allow her to come and contest the primaries,” he added.

Prefers Mutiu, Prof Khalid and Saeed Shakur

While ruling out his wife’s participation, Alhaji Gbangu mentioned three personalities he would prefer to support as potential successors to Dr Pelpuo.

He said a lawyer, Abubakar Mutiu-Rahman, and Economic Adviser to the Vice President, Prof Sherif Khalid, had previously contested the Wa Central parliamentary primary and expressed interest in the seat.

He also mentioned Principal State Attorney Saeed Abdul Shakur as another possible contender.

“I am not sure whether Principal State Attorney Saeed Abdul Shakur is interested in it, but Abubakar Mutiu-Rahman [Lawyer] and Economic Adviser to the Vice President Prof Sherif Khalid are interested in the seat because they contested the primaries in Wa Central before. When the time comes, we will persuade one of them to step down for the other,” he said.

Commends BUNAS-led regional executives

Alhaji Gbangu also commended the NDC Upper West Regional Executives, led by Regional Chairman Abdul Nasir Saani, popularly known as BUNAS, for helping the party win all 11 parliamentary seats in the region.

He urged delegates preparing to vote in the upcoming regional executive elections to elect leaders capable of running the party effectively rather than those driven by parochial interests.

He said the focus should be on strengthening the party and ensuring it remains capable of delivering electoral victories in the region.