Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, has been declared winner of the NDC parliamentary primaries in Ayawaso East, securing the party’s ticket for the March 3, 2026 by-election.
Provisional results released after the polls showed Baba Jamal polled 431 votes, beating Hajia Amina Adam, the widow of the late MP Mahama Naser Toure, who obtained 399 votes. Mohammed Ramne placed third with 88 votes, followed by Dr Yakubu Azimdow with 45 votes, while Najib Sani received one vote.
The election was held to select a replacement for the late NDC Member of Parliament, Mahama Naser Toure, who died after a short illness at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Toure was serving his fourth term in Parliament and held key roles, including Vice Chairman of the Energy Committee, and membership of the Roads and Transport, House, and Private Members’ Bills and Motions Committees.
Baba Jamal will now lead the NDC into the by-election on Tuesday, March 3, as the party seeks to retain the Ayawaso East seat.
The primaries were, however, accompanied by allegations that Baba Jamal shared television sets and other items during the process.In various media interviews, some voters admitted receiving television sets from a contestant.
The controversy arose after footage circulated on social media showing delegates allegedly receiving 32 inch television sets said to have been distributed by Mr Baba Jamal’s campaign team. But on his part Baba Jamal in a media interview he saw nothing wrong with giving out gifts and said this is not the first time he was giving out gifts. “So if you give television sets to people, what is wrong, when you give things to people? This is the first time I am giving things to people,” he said. He added, “If someone gives you a gift, you can accept it. What is wrong is allowing that gift to influence your vote.”
Other reports suggested boiled eggs were also distributed to delegates during the primary.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a astatment through the General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey has also condemned the alleged acts. The party announced that it had commenced investigations into the allegations and cautioned that sanctions would be applied where candidates were found culpable.
It also warned that future incidents of inducement could lead to tougher measures, including the cancellation of elections where evidence supports such claims.
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