The Electoral Commission (EC) has declared Professor Alidu Seidu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the new Member of Parliament for Tamale Central.
Prof Seidu is the only candidate for the by-election after the close of nominations. The opposition New Patriotic Party had pulled out of the by-election urging the National Democratic Congress to return the favor in Akwatia which never happened.
According to the Northern Regional Director of the EC, Lucas Yiryil, the extended nomination window closed at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, without any other aspirant—party-backed or independent—entering the race.
The unusual development meant the Commission had forgo a by-election and issue a formal communiqué confirming Professor Seidu as duly elected, a rare occurrence in Ghana’s electoral history.
The vacancy was created following the death of the sitting MP, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, on August 6, 2025.
Though three candidates initially filed to contest, two later withdrew, leaving Seidu unchallenged.
In an effort to broaden the field, the EC reopened nominations for ten days, but no new contenders emerged.
The Commission has today at a ceremony in the constituency declared Prof. Seidu as MP-Elect.
Prof. Alidu Seidu will together with his colleague from Akwatia Bernard Bediako Baidoo be sworn in by the speaker as MPs when parliament returns from the break.
