The decision comes amid allegations of vote-buying during the party’s parliamentary primary on Saturday, February 7, which Baba Jamal has consistently denied. A three-member committee tasked with investigating the claims submitted a report that informed the party’s decision.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, February 10, the NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, cited several factors that prevented the annulment of the primary.

He highlighted time constraints, noting that the Electoral Commission is expected to close nominations for the by-election on Wednesday, February 11, leaving limited opportunity to restart the process.

He also referenced legal and constitutional considerations, explaining that the party’s constitution does not provide for annulment of parliamentary primaries under such circumstances.

“The committee’s report is that ideally, we should have annulled the primary. However, the committee acknowledges 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. 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,” he said.

Mr. Kwetey also outlined plans to expand the investigative committee as part of broader internal reforms aimed at strengthening party processes.

“We’re going to do a comprehensive review of the whole process that led to our internal elections. We’re expanding the committee by adding four more members, to make it a seven-member committee, so that they can come out with recommendations to address these inappropriate practices in future elections,” he added.

According to the General Secretary, the committee found inappropriate conduct by all candidates, highlighting the need for reforms to prevent similar issues in future internal elections.

The NDC has reaffirmed Mohammed Baba Jamal as its parliamentary candidate as it prepares to contest the Ayawaso East by-election.

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His response follows a statement issued by the Majority Caucus on Sunday, February 8, 2026, calling for the immediate cancellation of the primary election that produced Baba Jamal as winner amid allegations of vote buying.

The statement, signed by Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mahama Ayariga, cited widely circulated reports of inducement during the conduct of the primary.

After what it described as extensive deliberations, the caucus resolved to formally request the NDC’s Functional Executive Committee to annul the election and bar any candidate found culpable of vote buying from participating in a rerun.

However, speaking on Badwam on Adom TV, Mr. Nukpenu, who served as the supervisor of the primary, strongly opposed the caucus’ position.

He argued that members of the Majority Caucus lacked the locus to make such demands, claiming that vote buying has become a pervasive problem across party elections and should not be selectively condemned.

While indicating that acts of vote buying might have occurred, Mr. Nukpenu described the overall conduct of the election as free and fair, noting that the irregularities reported largely took place outside the designated voting areas.

“The act is condemnable,” he said, “but it is inconsistent for individuals who have either benefitted from or presided over similar practices to now demand punitive action.”

He further criticized the timing of the Majority Caucus’ statement, stating that it was issued after the NDC’s General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, had already released an official statement condemning vote buying and affirming the party’s commitment to investigate the allegations.

According to Mr. Nukpenu, the matter should be left in the hands of the party’s internal investigative structures rather than being politicized through public statements that could deepen divisions within the party.

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OSP rejects claims of targeting NDC in vote-buying investigations

In a post on Facebook after the polls on Saturday, 7th February 2026, the influential pollster argued that the integrity of the government’s accountability agenda hinges on how it handles the corruption allegations that marred Saturday’s vote.

Baba Jamal won the primary with 431 votes to secure 45%, with his closest contender, Hajia Amina Adam, securing 399 votes (41%) in a contest marred by vote-buying allegations.

Mr Dankwah insists that administrative sanctions are insufficient for what he describes as criminal interference in the democratic process.

“The president must refer what happened in the Ayawaso East to the OSP if we are to take the reset agenda seriously,” Mr Dankwah posted on Facebook, sparking a firestorm of debate regarding the legal consequences for those involved.

Diplomatic fallout: Baba Jamal recalled from Nigeria High Commission

In a swift move to preserve the government’s commitment to transparency, President John Dramani Mahama has officially recalled Baba Jamal, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, who is at the centre of the controversy.

According to the Presidency, while allegations of vote-buying were made against multiple contestants, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among those who participated in the primary, making his situation distinct.

“The President noted that, while the allegations of vote-buying were made against multiple candidates who contested the primaries, Baba Jamal was the only serving public officer among them,” a statement released by the Spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said.

The release also acknowledged a public statement by the NDC’s General Secretary released earlier, indicating that the party had commenced its own internal investigations into the allegations arising from the polls.

Candidate Baba Jamal has allegedly been involved in vote-buying, with reports claiming he distributed 32-inch Nanco television sets to delegates ahead of the NDC Ayawaso primaries.

The team also distributed boiled eggs to delegates, a move that triggered brief jostling among some voters who attempted to access the food items.

Baba Jamal defends “benevolence” amidst corruption claims

Speaking to the media during the elections, Baba Jamal confirmed the distribution of the goodies but insisted that the gesture was not intended to influence voting decisions.

“So if you give television sets to people, what is wrong with it when you give things to people?” he asked. “Is this the first time I am giving things to people?”

He explained that his actions were consistent with his long-standing personal practice of supporting people financially and materially, stressing that generosity had always been part of his public life.

“Those of you who know me know that every Christmas, every occasion, every instance, I have put down GHS 2.5 million in free loans to give free loans to people,” he said. “So if today people are coming to vote and we are giving them something—what is wrong with that?”

Baba Jamal argued that the ethical issue was not the act of giving itself, but whether such gifts were allowed to influence voters’ choices.

READ ALSO: Ayawaso East NDC Primary: Baba Jamal campaign distributes TV sets, food to delegates
“If somebody gives you a gift, you can take it,” he stated. “But allowing that gift to influence your vote is what is wrong. It is not the gift; it is allowing that gift to influence your vote that makes it wrong.”

He further justified the gesture as part of basic hospitality, noting that it would be unreasonable to gather delegates for an important political exercise without providing some form of support.

“You think you can bring all these people together and not give them water?” he asked. “It is not the item; it is the intention.”

The aspirant maintained that his campaign had focused primarily on engagement and dialogue rather than inducements, adding that he had interacted extensively with party members and delegates ahead of the primary.

“I don’t think that I have gone wrong,” he said. “I have spoken to them and met people. That is why I am still saying that I hope and trust that they will still reason with me and come along with me.”

In a statement from the party’s National Secretariat on Saturday, February 7, 2026, the NDC said its national executives were alerted to reports that some aspirants had allegedly engaged in inducement to influence delegates during the internal election.

“The party vehemently condemns these actions in no uncertain terms as they represent an affront to the values and principles of the party and the reset agenda the party is championing,” the statement read.

The party added that a full-scale investigation has been initiated, and any candidate found guilty of misconduct will face swift disciplinary action.

The NDC also warned that any recurrence of such incidents could result in harsher penalties, including the potential cancellation of elections where evidence of inducement is established.

The statement was signed by the party’s General Secretary, Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, who reaffirmed the leadership’s commitment to upholding internal democratic processes and safeguarding the integrity of party elections.

Baba Jamal is among six aspirants who have picked nomination forms to contest the primary ahead of the March 3 by-election, following the death of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Mahama Naser Toure.

In an interview with Citi News on Sunday, January 25, Baba Jamal said his decision to contest the primary does not conflict with his diplomatic responsibilities, stressing that he would only step down from his position if he wins the parliamentary seat.

He also appealed to delegates to consider his experience and capacity to deliver meaningful development for the Ayawaso East constituency.

Meanwhile, six aspirants have so far picked nomination forms to contest the NDC parliamentary primary. They include the party’s constituency chairman, Mohammed Ramme; Hajia Amina Adam, wife of the late MP; Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal; and Dr. Yakubu Azindow.

The remaining aspirants are Najib Mohammed Sani and Salam Daru.