A violent resurgence in the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy dispute has left eight people dead, prompting two New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates, Dr. John Kingsley Krugu and Paul Alale Abogiri, to suspend their campaigns.
Representing the Zebilla and Bawku Central constituencies, respectively, Krugu and Abogiri announced their decision in response to heightened tensions in the region following the controversial return of Alhaji Seidu Abagre to Bawku.
The situation has raised fears that the recent violence could further destabilize the Kusaug Traditional Area, which has experienced periodic
unrest due to the contested leadership in Bawku. “Firm government intervention is crucial,” stated Krugu, urging officials to prioritize peace in the area.
The recent unrest follows an attempt to enforce a High Court arrest warrant against Abagre, who was enskinned as a rival chief last year, a move that was strongly condemned by the government as a threat to national security.
Efforts to arrest Abagre faced resistance at the palace of the Nayiri in Nalerigu, stirring tensions between rival factions.
Abogiri echoed Krugu’s call for intervention, urging the government to uphold peace and maintain order.
However, his decision to suspend campaign activities has sparked internal party dissent, with NPP Chairman Abdulai Issaka criticizing the move as “malicious” and suggesting it undermines the party’s unity and election strategy.
Issaka stressed that such actions should be coordinated with the party and added that the government must remain neutral to avoid further escalations.
Political observers fear the conflict may undermine NPP’s recent gains in the Kusaug zone, where the party secured over 80,000 votes in the 2020 elections. Andrew Atariwini, deputy Upper East regional communications director for the NPP, expressed concerns that the renewed crisis could jeopardize the party’s progress, calling for prompt government action to restore stability. “The decision to support the return of this imposter, who presents himself as a chief, has seriously damaged our party’s momentum,” Atariwini stated, adding that decisive government action is essential to avoid further disruption. As the violence continues, calls for peace and immediate resolution grow urgent amid fears of further bloodshed in the region.
