NDC Confirms Baba Jamal as Ayawaso East Candidate Despite Ongoing Vote-Buying Concerns

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has confirmed Mohammed Baba Jamal as its parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, notwithstanding lingering allegations of vote-buying during the party’s recent primary election.

The decision was announced by NDC General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, after a meeting of the party’s Functional Executive Committee, which considered findings from a three-member investigative committee set up to probe the allegations.

Addressing the media, Mr Kwetey explained that although the committee recommended that the primary ideally be annulled, several constraints made that option unworkable.

He noted that the NDC constitution does not provide for the annulment of an election, and the party is also under severe time pressure to submit a candidate to the Electoral Commission.

“We are time-bound because we must present a candidate by tomorrow,” Mr Kwetey said, adding that any attempt to restart the process could trigger legal challenges from affected parties, further complicating the situation.

Given these limitations, the party resolved to proceed with Baba Jamal, who was officially declared winner of the primary by the Electoral Commission.

Mr Kwetey further announced the establishment of a new seven-member committee tasked with developing comprehensive reforms to curb vote-buying and other electoral malpractices in future NDC internal elections.

The initial investigative committee was mandated to examine allegations that some aspirants distributed inducements, including cash and television sets, to delegates during the primary held on Saturday, February 7.

According to Mr Kwetey, the committee’s findings indicated that improper conduct was displayed by nearly all candidates involved in the contest, underscoring the need for urgent internal reforms.