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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been dealt a devastating blow in the Mion constituency of the Northern region after the disqualified NDC parliamentary aspirant, Prince Ibrahim Tanko announced plans to contest the December general elections as an independent candidate. Contrary to earlier reports that Prince Tanko, who enjoys overwhelming support in the Mion constituency, was about to rescind his decision to contest as an independent candidate, DAILY GUIDE has gathered that the disqualified aspirant is all out to wrestle the seat from the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan. Speaking to DAILY GUIDE via telephone, Mr. Tanko said his decision to contest as independent candidate was final and non-negotiable. According to him, he believes in the ideals and ideologies of the NDC but was contesting the seat as an independent candidate based on pressure mounted on him by the constituents. He disclosed that the constituents were unhappy with the alleged connivance of the incumbent MP with the vetting committee to disqualify him. Soon after his disqualification, pressure was mounted on him to contest and liberate the people of the area who have over the years been yearning for change. Meanwhile, a number of posters with the portrait of the aspirant have already flooded the area ahead of the December polls. It would be recalled that Mr. Tanko was among three candidates who were disqualified in the party�s primaries early this year which created uproar in the Mion constituency. But he debunked allegations by the committee empanelled to vet prospective candidates and said they maltreated him. In view of this, he heeded calls by majority of youth of the area to go independent to capture the Mion seat from the current MP, who is said to be inefficient. Mr. Tanko, who downplayed suggestions of being expelled completely from the NDC if he goes independent, told journalists he would suffer the consequences in order to listen to the call of his people. He noted that no amount of negotiations would compel him to rescind his decision to go independent, noting that the vetting committee failed to provide him with the opportunity to explain issues regarding his documents. He maintained that he had genuine documents and wondered why the vetting committee disqualified him despite efforts to redeem the image of the constituency. His supporters, led by Issah Abdul Samed, accused the incumbent MP, Dr. Alhassan of influencing the committee to disqualify Ibrahim Tanko. Ibrahim Tanko, who predicted his disqualification by the committee, earlier threatened to go independent. But the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have indicated that the internal wrangling the NDC within the Mion Constituency would boost their chance of capturing the seat. According to them, it was obvious the NDC was going to lose the seat following the disillusionment of the constituents who have accused the MP and the party of neglecting the development of the area.