By Issah Olegor
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Mion Constituency of the Northern Region has been hit by an unexpected leadership crisis following the immediate resignation of its Constituency Chairman, Sulaiman Abubakar, barely two weeks after he was declared the winner of the party’s constituency elections.
Abubakar announced his resignation in a letter dated Saturday, August 8, 2026, addressed to the NPP Northern Regional Chairman. In the letter, he formally relinquished his position as Mion Constituency Chairman with immediate effect.
The sudden decision has raised questions within the constituency, particularly because it comes shortly after Abubakar secured another mandate in the party’s internal elections.
Despite the timing of his resignation, Abubakar did not disclose any specific reason for stepping down. He simply stated that his decision was personal, leaving the exact circumstances surrounding his departure unclear.
“My resignation is personal,” he stated in the resignation letter.
He used the opportunity to express appreciation to the various groups and individuals who supported him during his tenure as constituency chairman.
He mentioned the Council of Elders, patrons, polling station and electoral area executives, as well as the wider membership and supporters of the NPP in the Mion Constituency.
He thanked them for the confidence they reposed in him while he served as the constituency’s chairman.
Despite relinquishing his leadership position, Abubakar made it clear that his resignation should not be interpreted as an exit from the NPP.
He stressed that he remains an active and good-standing member of the party and intends to continue contributing to its political activities.
“I remain an ardent and good-standing member of the party and will continue to discharge my role as a member to ensure we recapture power in 2028,” he said.
His declaration appears to draw a clear distinction between his decision to leave the constituency leadership position and his continued loyalty to the NPP.
Abubakar also wished the constituency leadership well and expressed his intention to maintain contact with the party despite no longer occupying the chairman’s position.
The resignation is particularly notable because of its timing.
The former chairman had only recently emerged victorious in the Mion Constituency polls. His victory was expected to position him to continue leading the party at the constituency level as the NPP prepares for the 2028 general election.
Instead, barely two weeks after being declared the winner, he has stepped down.
The development has therefore created uncertainty over the next phase of leadership within the Mion Constituency and could trigger discussions within the party over arrangements for filling the vacant position.
For now, however, the resignation letter provides no indication of any internal dispute, disagreement with the regional leadership, dissatisfaction with the party or personal circumstances beyond Abubakar’s brief explanation that the decision was personal.
His continued declaration of support for the NPP and his stated commitment to helping the party return to power in 2028 also suggest that he does not regard the resignation as a political departure from the party.
The immediate question now is what comes next for the Mion Constituency branch and whether the NPP will announce an interim arrangement or take steps towards another constituency-level election.
Until further clarification is provided by Abubakar or the NPP leadership, the reasons behind the unexpected resignation remain undisclosed.
What is certain is that the Mion NPP has lost its constituency chairman at a critical point in its preparations for the party’s next electoral battle, with the man who had just won the constituency polls voluntarily stepping aside almost immediately after his victory.
