The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed as its parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso East Constituency ahead of the March 3 by-election, following the party’s internal primary held on Saturday February 7 2026.
Provisional results released after the close of polls showed Baba Jamal, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, emerging winner with 431 votes out of the total ballots cast.
He was closely followed by Hajia Amina Adam, widow of the late Member of Parliament, Naser Toure, who polled 399 votes. Mohammed Ramne, the Ayawaso East NDC Constituency Chairman, placed third with 88 votes.
Dr Yakubu Azindow secured 45 votes, while Najib Mohammed Sani recorded one vote.
The keenly contested primary attracted more than 1,100 accredited delegates from across the constituency, reflecting the high stakes involved in selecting a candidate for the by-election in a seat widely regarded as a stronghold of the governing NDC.
The contest featured five aspirants: Hajia Amina Adam; Baba Jamal; Dr Yakubu Azindow, who had previously contested the late MP in the 2023 primary; Mohammed Ramne; and Najib Mohammed Sani.
Although the race was initially viewed as open, it gradually narrowed into a tight contest among Baba Jamal, Hajia Amina Adam and Dr Azindow, with expectations that sympathy votes could play a role following the death of the sitting MP in January.
The election, however, was not without controversy. There were reports both a day before the polls and on the day of voting of alleged inducement and vote-buying, with claims that some delegates were offered television sets, cash and motorbikes in exchange for their support. Videos circulating on social media showed some delegates leaving polling areas carrying television sets and other items.
In a statement issued on the same day, the National Democratic Congress confirmed it had taken notice of what it described as widespread incidents of inducement and vote-buying allegedly perpetrated by some aspirants.
The party condemned the acts, describing them as an affront to its values and principles, and announced that it had launched full-scale investigations, warning that swift sanctions would be applied against any candidate found culpable, including the possible cancellation of elections in future cases.
With the primary concluded, Baba Jamal is expected to lead the NDC into the March 3 parliamentary by-election, as the party seeks to retain the Ayawaso East seat.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
