{
  "id": 5075358,
  "title": "Shamima Muslim will not contest Wa Central NDC primary – Husband clears the air",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/shamima-muslim-will-not-contest-wa-central-ndc-primary-husband-clears",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T11:15:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/shamima-muslim-will-not-contest-wa-central-ndc-primary-husband-clears-the-air/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alhaji Alhassan Gbangu, known as \"The Lion,\" has clarified that his wife, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim, does not intend to run in the NDC parliamentary primary for the Wa Central constituency. Speaking on Home Radio, Gbangu used Waale dialect to emphasize that his wife has no interest in the parliamentary seat. He stated, \"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.\"\n\nGbangu further clarified that even if incumbent MP Dr Rashid Hassan Pelpuo decides not to seek re-election, Shamima Muslim would not contest the primary. He added, \"Shamima is not interested in the Wa Parliamentary seat, and I will not also allow her to come and contest the primaries.\"\n\nWhen asked about potential successors to Dr. Pelpuo, Gbangu mentioned three names: Abubakar Mutiu-Rahman, a lawyer; Economic Adviser to the Vice President Prof Sherif Khalid, who previously contested the Wa Central parliamentary primary; and Principal State Attorney Saeed Abdul Shakur. He said, \"I am not sure whether Principal State Attorney Saeed Abdul Shakur is interested in it, but Abubakar Mutiu-Rahman 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.\"\n\nGbangu also praised the NDC Upper West Regional Executives, led by Regional Chairman Abdul Nasir Saani, for their role in securing all 11 parliamentary seats in the region. He urged delegates preparing for the upcoming regional executive elections to focus on electing leaders who can effectively run the party, rather than those driven by local interests. Gbangu emphasized, \"The focus should be on strengthening the party and ensuring it remains capable of delivering electoral victories in the region.\"",
  "summary": "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 […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Shamima Muslim will not contest Wa Central NDC primary – Husband clears the air",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/shamima-muslim-will-not-contest-wa-central-ndc-primary-husband-clears-5096878",
        "published": "2026-09-02T13:43:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Shamima Muslim Writes: The honour and duty of representation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/shamima-muslim-writes-the-honour-and-duty-of-representation",
        "published": "2026-09-02T14:26:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}