A dramatic development is said to have unfolded within the ranks of the opposition New Patriotic Party following the rejection of former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Sheikh Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid, for a key appointment on one of the party’s newly constituted committees.
According to sources familiar with proceedings at the party’s National Steering Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 6th May 2026, at the party headquarters, the former NPA boss was nominated to serve as co-chair of the party’s Religious Affairs Committee (Muslim Category), alongside Hon. Ben Abdalla Banda.
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However, his nomination was met with fierce resistance from members of the Steering Committee and was eventually rejected unanimously. The development has generated intense discussions within party circles, especially considering the stature of Sheikh Mustapha Hamid as an Islamic scholar, seasoned communicator, and former government appointee under the erstwhile NPP administration.
Rejection Rooted in His Neglect of Party Structures
Sources at the meeting disclosed that members of the National Steering Committee strongly opposed the nomination on grounds that Sheikh Mustapha Hamid failed to support the party and its grassroots during his tenure as Chief Executive of the NPA.
Party officials at the meeting are said to have expressed deep dissatisfaction with what they described as his “detachment” from the party while occupying one of the most influential positions in government. According to insiders, several National Officers recounted personal experiences of alleged neglect and disrespect suffered at the hands of the former NPA boss during his time in office.
One of the strongest accounts reportedly came from the party’s Acting National Chairman, Smith Buttey, who narrated an incident in 2024 where he and some party executives visited Sheikh Mustapha Hamid’s office to seek support, including employment opportunities for party members.
The Acting Chairman disclosed that despite waiting for more than three hours, the delegation was denied access to the former NPA Chief Executive and eventually left disappointed. Other National Officers at the meeting recounted similar experiences, claiming that Sheikh Mustapha Hamid frequently ignored calls from party executives and treated party functionaries with contempt while in office.
Some members are also said to have accused him of victimizing known party sympathizers within the NPA to the extent of dismissing one individual staff member whom Mustapha perceived to be strongly aligned with the NPP.
Hajia Ruka Ahmed Replaces Mustapha Hamid
Following the rejection of Sheikh Mustapha Hamid’s nomination, the Steering Committee is said to have nominated Hajia Ruka Ahmed to serve instead as co-chair of the Religious Affairs Committee (Muslim Category). Her nomination reportedly received unanimous approval from the Steering Committee before subsequently being endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee and National Council.
Party insiders say the decision reflects growing sentiment within sections of the NPP that future appointments and leadership opportunities within the party should favour individuals perceived to have remained loyal and accessible to the party base during the party’s period in government.
Questions Over Mustapha Vice Chairmanship’s Ambition
The rejection of Mustapha Hamid is expected to cast a shadow over his ambition to contest for a national executive position within the party. Political observers within the NPP say the development may significantly affect his prospects, particularly at a time when many grassroots members continue to blame former government appointees for the party’s electoral defeat.
Meanwhile, some voices within the party have questioned the timing of his reported decision to seek higher office within the NPP amid ongoing investigations and prosecution by the Office of the Special Prosecutor over allegations linked to his tenure at the NPA.
Though supporters of Sheikh Mustapha Hamid maintain that he remains a respected figure within the party and the Muslim community, critics insist that the rejection by the National Steering Committee signals deep resentment among sections of the party hierarchy over his stewardship at the NPA and his relationship with party executives during the NPP’s tenure in government.
