The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cleared Mohammed Baba Jamal to remain the party’s candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, despite allegations of inducement during the party’s parliamentary primary held on Saturday, February 7.
A three-member committee set up by the party to investigate the claims found that all five aspirants engaged in some form of inducement. The committee reportedly recommended that the primary be annulled.
However, the party leadership has decided to uphold the outcome and retain Baba Jamal as the candidate.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, February 10, the NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, said while the committee recommended annulment, it also acknowledged challenges, including the absence of a clear provision in the party’s rules for annulling a primary.
“The committee’s report is that ideally, we should have annulment of the primary. However, the committee acknowledges that there are real obstacles that make it difficult for us to do that. The party’s constitution doesn’t have a provision for annulment of the election.”
He continued, “We are time-bound because we need to present a candidate to the EC on February 11, and there are legal challenges that could be mounted by whoever won. In light of that, the party has taken the recommendations, and we have no option but to present Baba Jamal as our candidate”.
Meanwhile, speaking on Morning Starr on Starr FM with Naa Dedei Tettey, the party’s Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, defended the decision. He described Baba Jamal as a candidate with a strong track record, adding that what happened should be seen as a momentary lapse in judgment rather than a disqualifying offense.
Gbande also dismissed suggestions that the investigative process was a mere formality, insisting the party took the findings seriously and is focused on strengthening internal processes going forward.
