The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has attributed its decision to field Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed as its candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election partly to time constraints, explaining that there was insufficient time to rerun the primaries despite allegations of vote-buying during the party’s exercise.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, said the party’s investigative committee completed its work and submitted recommendations, which the leadership fully affirmed.
“The committee has noted there was some widespread distribution of items on behalf of all the five candidates in that election… However, time constraints, we cannot go and do another election because, as of today, we are supposed to submit a candidate to [the] electoral commission for the purposes of the election,” Gbande explained.
He stressed that while the committee found instances of inappropriate conduct, the party had to balance due process with the practical reality of the electoral calendar.
“If we go and apply some unilateral policy decision, it would allow people to want to take judicial address to the issues. So the committee then concluded that, in spite of that, we should proceed to file Baba Jamal as a candidate of the party,” he said.
Gbande also highlighted Baba Jamal’s experience and public service record, emphasizing his integrity.
“He was, again, he’s a current deputy director of legal of the party. So this is a man who have acquitted himself creditably well in the eyes of the public… without ever having a brush with the law,” he noted.
The NDC has assured party members that disciplinary measures have been applied where necessary and that reforms are underway to prevent future occurrences of inducement or vote-buying. time.
Baba Jamal was officially cleared to represent the NDC in the upcoming by-election, with the party calling for unity among members as it prepares for the contest.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
