Former Member of Parliament for Yendi, Dr Farouk Aliu Mahama, has confirmed his intention to contest the constituency’s parliamentary seat in the 2028 general election on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His decision follows what his supporters describe as weeks of appeals from youth groups, traditional leaders, elders and other community stakeholders urging him to return to active parliamentary politics.
The former MP says his decision is driven by a desire to continue his development agenda for the constituency, which he has described as the “Great Yendi Dream”.
The declaration comes ahead of the NPP’s November 10, 2026 deadline for prospective parliamentary aspirants to formally register their interest through the party’s online portal.
A vision interrupted
Dr Mahama represented Yendi in Parliament from 2021 to 2025, having won the constituency in the December 2020 general election.
During his tenure, he facilitated a number of development initiatives, which his supporters say included road improvements in farming communities, the construction and renovation of educational facilities, vocational training opportunities for young people and interventions to support farmers.
These initiatives, according to his supporters, formed part of his broader vision of transforming Yendi into a modern and economically vibrant constituency, which they have branded the “Great Yendi Dream”.
However, his parliamentary tenure ended following his defeat in the December 2024 general election.
Some of his supporters have attributed the defeat to internal divisions within the NPP, although that explanation remains their assessment of the factors behind the electoral outcome.
Says commitment to Yendi remains
Despite losing the parliamentary seat, Dr Mahama’s supporters say he has maintained his engagement with constituents through educational assistance, community interventions and other forms of support.
Among the recent interventions attributed to him is the donation of a 100KVA generator to a community in the constituency reportedly affected by unreliable electricity supply.
He is also said to have supported a young Yendi indigene pursuing medical studies abroad.
Explaining his decision to contest again, Dr Mahama said: “I did not leave Yendi. Yendi never left me. I am back to finish what we started together – the Great Yendi Dream.”
His supporters have welcomed the announcement, describing it as a response to calls for his return to represent the constituency.
One social media user, commenting on the development, praised the former MP for maintaining contact with constituents after leaving Parliament.
“When he lost, other politicians disappeared. FAM stayed. He paid our fees, he came to our events, he fixed our light. That is why we called him back. We want our MP back,” the user wrote.
Supporters call it ‘The Great Return’
Supporters of Dr Mahama have christened his proposed comeback “The Great Return”, presenting it as an opportunity to revive what they consider an unfinished development agenda for Yendi.
They say his return would also provide an opportunity to address divisions within the party and consolidate the development initiatives they credit him with facilitating during his four years in Parliament.
His confirmation sets the stage for another contest for the Yendi parliamentary seat, subject to his participation in and success at the NPP’s parliamentary primaries.