Baba Jamal Survives Probe Storm! NDC Clears Him for Ayawaso East By-Election Amid Vote-Buying Row

Baba Jamal Survives Probe Storm! NDC Clears Him for Ayawaso East By-Election Amid Vote-Buying Row

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially cleared Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed to contest the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, bringing a dramatic twist to the party’s controversial parliamentary primaries saga.

The decision was announced on Monday, February 10, by the NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, following the submission of the investigative committee’s report into allegations of vote buying that rocked the party’s February 7 primaries.

Addressing journalists after receiving the report, Mr. Kwetey revealed that the party’s Functional Executive Committee (FEC) could not annul the primary results because the NDC constitution does not provide legal grounds for such action.

“The Committee could not annul the primary because the NDC Constitution contains no provision allowing annulment of primaries,” Mr. Kwetey explained.

He further disclosed that time constraints imposed by the Electoral Commission’s nomination deadlines heavily influenced the party’s decision to maintain Baba Jamal as its candidate for the crucial March 3 by-election.

According to the Electoral Commission’s timetable released on January 19, nominations for the by-election are being accepted at the Ayawaso East Municipal Office from February 9 to February 11, between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

Political temperature within the constituency had soared following widespread calls from sections of the party, including the NDC Majority Caucus in Parliament, demanding the annulment of the entire primary process and possible sanctions against candidates implicated in alleged inducement.

However, while Baba Jamal has been cleared to carry the party’s flag, the investigative committee did not entirely dismiss concerns raised during the probe. Mr. Kwetey revealed that the committee recommended sanctions against some government appointees who participated in the primaries.

He also announced that the party intends to expand the investigative committee from three to seven members to conduct a broader review of alleged inappropriate conduct during internal party elections.

Earlier, speaking after submitting the report, committee member Inusah Fuseini declined to disclose details of the findings, stressing that the document now belongs to the party’s leadership.

“We had just submitted the report to the party. We cannot share details. The report is the property of the Functional Executive Committee, and the party will communicate to the public what is contained in it,” he stated.

Sources close to the process indicate that all five aspirants who contested the primaries were invited and questioned as part of the investigation into the vote-buying allegations.

With Baba Jamal now officially confirmed as the NDC’s candidate, attention shifts to the high-stakes Ayawaso East by-election, which political analysts say could serve as a key test of the party’s internal unity and electoral strength ahead of future national contests.

Despite the stormy internal contest, party leaders appear determined to close ranks and focus on securing victory in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched by-elections in recent political history.