John Dumelo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon is under fire after he accused Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the constituency, of killing her husband to gain political power.

During a TV3 community watch program, Dumelo expressed his frustration towards the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, claiming that her supporters were mocking him over an incident involving a state car. In response, Dumelo made a controversial statement, saying, “If they want to go that tangent, I can also go the same tangent… maybe Lydia is the one who killed her husband to become MP. This time around, it is boot for boot.”

He further added, “You cannot decide to be a bloody widow to be a Member of Parliament.”

Dumelo’s remarks sparked outrage on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where users condemned his statements. One user commented, “John Dumelo is so dumb and empty,” while another expressed disappointment, saying, “A woman painfully lost her husband, yet you foolishly sat there and uttered such nonsense against her just because the crowd called you out on the V8 saga? You’re one of my favorites, but I am seriously disappointed in you!”

Other users continued to criticize Dumelo, with one saying, “Lydia killed her husband to become MP—John Dumelo. Your communication skills are very poor.” Another added, “This guy is an uncivilized character. Should we say he killed his mother because he wants power? Such an imbecile wants to go to Parliament.”

The backlash against Dumelo’s comments has been widespread, with many calling his statement reckless and disrespectful.