NDC forges ahead with Baba Jamal as Ayawaso East Candidate amid primary probe

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has confirmed it will maintain Mohammed Baba Jamal as its candidate for the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, despite an internal investigation finding widespread “inappropriate conduct,” including allegations of vote-buying, during the candidate selection process.

The decision was announced by the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, following a meeting of the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee on Monday.

This conclusion comes after the party received a report from a three-member committee tasked with probing claims that aspirants in the February 7 primary offered delegates inducements such as cash and television sets.

Mr. Kwetey revealed that the investigative committee’s report recommended an annulment of the primary results. However, the party’s leadership cited significant practical and legal hurdles that prevented such a move.

“The party’s constitution does not have a provision for an annulment of an election,” Kwetey explained to journalists. “We are also time-bound because we need to present a candidate to the Electoral Commission by tomorrow.”

He further noted that any attempt to annul the result would likely face legal challenges from the declared winner, a process the party cannot navigate within the stringent electoral timetable.

“Given these difficulties, we have no option but to present Baba Jamal, who actually won, according to the Electoral Commission declaration,” Kwetey stated.

The General Secretary acknowledged that the investigative committee found fault with the conduct of most participants in the primary. “Inappropriate conduct was exhibited by virtually all the candidates,” he admitted.

In response to the scandal, the NDC has established a new seven-member committee mandated to develop comprehensive reforms aimed at eradicating vote-buying and ensuring cleaner internal contests in the future.

The party now turns its focus to the upcoming by-election, with its candidate carrying the banner despite the unresolved cloud over the primary process.